Sofia Art Fair 2024: Contemporary Art From Around The World and A Rich Parallel Program
Sofia joins the major European and world centers hosting attractive international contemporary art exhibitions. Sofia Art Fair will be held from October 3 to 6 at the John Atanasov Forum in Sofia Tech Park. The exhibition, which is unique for Bulgaria, will feature galleries and collectives representing over 70 artists working in a wide variety of artistic styles. All of them will be located in an area of over 4,500 m2. Moreover, within the framework of the event, the audience will be able to experience a rich accompanying program with eminent European guest lecturers, a virtual reality exhibition and specially prepared curatorial tours.
The large-scale forum, which opens on October 3, attracts Bulgarian and foreign collectors, popular figures from all creative spheres, business representatives, art and culture lovers, the academic community, as well as the general public – in an attractive and stylish atmosphere, in line with the best global practices. A limited number of tickets are available for the special VIP opening, giving access to the entire accompanying program during the three-day event. Admission for people under 18, as well as for people with disabilities, is free.
What does the accompanying program of Sofia Art Fair look like and what are the most striking topics and guest speakers:
Friday, October 4, 2024
11:00 – 21:00 Virtual reality exhibition with works by selected authors – accessible to all visitors to the exhibition.
12:00 – 15:00 Workshop for young contemporary artists with the renowned Dutch curator Johan Gustavsson
16:00 – 17:00 How to enter new art markets? – Moderated conversation with guest Patrick Steinhauser, founder of the Steinhauser Contemporary Art Gallery in Bratislava. Moderator: Radoslav Mehandziiski
16:00 – 18:30 Meetings with artists present at the pavilions
17:30 – 18:30 The International Art Market – Truths and Myths – Presentation by Dr. Franz Eim, CEO of the international insurance company Tectus Brokers with a focus on valuables and art.
19:00 – 20:30 The importance of Christo’s Parisian projects – “The Iron Curtain” (1962), “The Wrapped Pont Neuf” (1975-1985) and “The Wrapped Arc de Triomphe” (1961-2021) – Lecture by Lor Martin Poulet – director of the “The Wrapped Arc de Triomphe” project. Ms. Poulet also worked on the “The Wrapped Pont Neuf” project from 1981 to 1984.
Saturday, October 5, 2024
11:00 – 21:00 Virtual reality exhibition with works by selected authors – accessible to all visitors to the exhibition.
12:00 – 13:00 Who painted Mona Lisa’s Mustache and what are some of the most striking examples in contemporary art? – Visual presentation by Radoslav Mehandzhiyski and Teodora Konstantinova, Art and Culture Today
13:00 – 15:00 Meetings with artists present at the pavilions
13:30 – 14:30 A walk in the world of video games and a meeting with 2 forms of art inaccessible to other genres – Presentation by Martin Kadinov – co-founder and managing partner at TDB Play, a company focused on developing projects in the field of video games, electronic sports and “geek” culture, with operations in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe. Creator of #goodgame – a movement for charity through video games.
15:00 – 15:30 Investments in Contemporary Art – Presentation by Simona Krasteva, journalist, model and international art dealer
16:00 – 17:00 From independent space to museum institution: pushing models of resistance – Lecture by Marion Vasseur Rallui – curator at CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art in Bordeaux
17:30 – 18:30 Orientation in the career growth of the artist – from self-management to the high echelon of the art world – Moderated discussion with guest Kostas Papacostas – Greek contemporary artist based in London, represented by galleries in London, New York and Paris. Moderator: Radoslav Mehandzhiyski
19:00 – 20:30 Confronting Populism in Today’s Art Institutions – Lecture by Hou Hanru – internationally recognized curator and art critic, based in San Francisco, Paris and Rome, long-time artistic director of the National Museum for 21st Century Art, MAXXI in Rome (2013-2023)
Sunday, October 6, 2024
11:00 – 21:00 Virtual reality exhibition with works by selected authors – accessible to all visitors to the exhibition.
11:00 – 18:00 Corporate group visits with curatorial tours
12:00 – 13:00 The most daring works and actions of contemporary art. – Visual presentation by Radoslav Mehandzhiyski and Teodora Konstantinova, Art and Culture Today
13:00 – 15:00 Meetings with the artists present at the pavilions
14:00 – 15:00 Artificial Intelligence in Contemporary Art – Visual presentation by Radoslav Mehandzhiyski and Teodora Konstantinova, Art and Culture Today
15:30 – 16:30 Where is the art in the room? – Discussion on the role of interior designers in the contemporary art market with Vesela Nozharova – curator, art historian and art advisor
17:00 – 18:30 Open panel discussion “Art Fairs in Eastern Europe” with participants:
– Demetra Arapu – executive director of the international art fair “MoBU” in Bucharest;
– Pantelis Tsatsis – founder and artistic director of the international art fair Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair in Thessaloniki;
– Suni Danaji – president of Sofia Disa and executive director of Sofia Art Fair
– Moderator: Radoslav Mehandzhiyski
Art matters! This is the slogan of Sofia Art Fair. It expresses the mission of the project – to unlock the exceptional potential of contemporary art to provoke thought and senses, to tempt, educate, and shape attitudes towards current topics from the world around us – Sofia Art Fair contributes to the growth of the European cultural image of our capital.
Entrance for persons under 18, as well as for people in disadvantaged situations, is free. Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased through the EpayGo platform and at EasyPay cash desks, and every day the program provides different content. You can choose a one-day, two-day or three-day ticket.
Sofia Art Fair is co-financed by the “Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation”, is part of the Cultural Calendar of Sofia Municipality 2024, and is realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture, as well as with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of France / French Institute in Bulgaria.
Main partners of the event are the “Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation”, Art and Culture Today, Sofia Tech Park
Institutional partners: Sofia Municipality, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, French Institute in Bulgaria, American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, National Academy of Arts, New Bulgarian University; Regional Center Sofia – UNESCO
Strategic partners: Citroen & DS Automobiles, Aya Estate, Buzalov & Chanova Law Office, VP Consulting, #ChangeThePicture – Information Campaign of Philip Morris Bulgaria, TDB Play
Supporting partners: Art Fairs Service, follow.art, Tectus, Trend, TEXCity, Ovcharov & Parushev Law Firm, Bulgarian Association of Restaurants, Chance Travel, Seewines, Arkana, DSGN Clinic; Nikola Tesla Academy, Epaygo, EasyPay, Giramondo travel
Media partners: Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, Darik Radio, Dnes.bg, Bloomberg.tv, Gradat, Bulevard Bulgaria, Biograf, DIVA, Off News, dir.bg, Impressio, Videocast, CodeFashion, Metroreklama, VIZH! Programata, Go guide, InGlobo, kafene.bg, www.antrakt.bg