Official Opening of FIG. TREE – The Festival for Illustration and Graphics
24.03 – 11.04
Opening: 24.03.2023, 6:30 PM
Harita Asumani, Martin Atanasov, DAMO, Anna Haifisch, Alina Papazova, and Ariane Toussaint
Curators: Yana Abrasheva & Vasil Vladimirov
The third edition of FIG. – The Festival for Illustration and Graphics will traditionally open with a group exhibition at KO-OP Art Space. In line with the main theme There Must Be Some Mistake, the exhibition titled A Typo in the Book of the Self seeks to explore various notions of the self and the body in relation to their representation and their care in contemporary society. Some of the works stand in contrast to the predominant individualistic and capitalist perspective of self-care, while others offer speculative scenarios which break this pattern and create new unexpected worlds and ways of thinking.
The exhibition comes at a time when pressure is put on the individual not only concerning their success but also their responsibility towards global issues. Such issues have psychological repercussions which literally alter one’s body and pay a toll on the mind. A current example that has been conceptualized is the mania regarding ‘eco-anxiety’ which is a good example of how such a process works. Collective issues require collective responses and care for one’s self and body is interdependent with care for others and others care for us.
The exhibition features works of six artists – Harita Asumani, Martin Atanasov, DAMO, Anna Haifisch, Alina Papazova, and Ariane Toussaint – who offer a multitude of perspectives that deal with this topic indirectly. By employing various techniques like moving images, painting, site-specific installation, photography, ceramics, textile, and printmaking, the exhibition demonstrates the versatility of the mediums of illustration and graphic arts but also challenges what they are and their potential possibilities.
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KO-OP's programme is realised with the support of the National Culture Fund.
FIG. 3 is realised with the support of the Ministry of culture.
