Collect Gallery hosted Bulgarian artist Todor Rabadzhiyski's solo exhibition, "Elegance in a Fragile Step." Works exploring the cycles of creation, destruction, and renewal are blending with Istanbul's dynamic art scene. We spoke with curator Prof. Dr. Fırat Arapoğlu and Collect Gallery founder Vladimir İliev about the exhibition.

Collect Gallery opened its first exhibition in its new Istanbul location with Bulgarian artist Todor Rabadzhiyski's exhibition, "Elegance in a Fragile Step." The exhibition combines traces of the past and present with the artist's works exploring the cycles of creation, destruction, and renewal.

Rabadzhiyski, whose works intertwine destruction and liberation, features works featuring rusted metal surfaces, broken ceramics, and deteriorated forms, each bearing a unique fragility yet bearing traces of rebirth. The exhibition demonstrates the artist's powerful dialogue with the space and the influence of nature.

The exhibition's theme aligns with Istanbul's dynamic art scene. Held simultaneously with the 18th Istanbul Biennial, the exhibition offers a strong parallel to the biennial's themes of fragility and resilience. The works in the exhibition depict the traumas of the past and resurrection through traces of oxidation, cracks, and rust on metal surfaces shaped by the influence of nature.

Gallery founder Vladimir Iliev states that with this exhibition, they aim not only to raise awareness of Bulgarian artists in Turkey but also to open the Turkish art world to an international dialogue. "Elegance in a Fragile Step" stands out as a reflection of Collect Gallery's vision, reflecting the artistic and cultural value Rabadzhiyski's works bring to Turkey. We spoke with curator Prof. Dr. Fırat Arapoğlu and Collect Gallery founder Vladimir İliev about the exhibition.

During your curatorial process, what elements stood out most in bringing together Todor Rabadzhiyski's works?

In preparing this exhibition, our priority was to create a holistic approach that emphasized Todor Rabadzhiyski's cycle of creation, destruction, and renewal. The rusted steel, surfaces, and colors in the works imbue each piece with the traces of destruction and repair. The paintings' metalwork bridges the past and present. Furthermore, the exhibition's three-stage geography, stretching from Sofia to Lemnos Island to Istanbul, added the structure of different locations to the conceptual structure of the works. These geographical layers and material-focused system formed the fundamental elements that unify Rabadzhiyski's style.

The exhibition explores the cycles of creation, destruction, and renewal. Can you explain how these themes shape Todor's works?

The artist scrapes, breaks, and rusts metal and ceramics; then, by repainting or repairing and reassembling them, he makes visible on the surfaces the traces of destruction and the sign of rebirth. The rust and cracks on the metals appear like scars, but the colors and interventions on them can be interpreted as an attempt to heal this wound. Similarly, the cracks in ceramics reveal the fragility of the material, while the glaze and colors that penetrate the cracks seem to attempt to repair this fragility.

The first section of the exhibition developed as a site-specific installation on the island of Lemnos. How did the dialogue with nature in this project transform the works?

The Levietan installation on the island of Lemnos was conceived as a work intertwined with nature. Rabadzhiyski positioned his installation, composed of oxidized steel plates and broken surfaces, in an open field, engaging with natural influences such as air, sun, and wind. This intervention transformed the landscape, and the rusting process of the metals referenced the stories embedded in the island's soil.

The second part of the exhibition creates a narrative through panels and ceramics displayed in Istanbul. How would you describe the meaning of these material choices and their relationship with the viewer?

The Istanbul section of the exhibition presents paintings and ceramic sculptures on metal sheets. The rusty metal paintings convey a massive texture, while the paint on them connects the past and the present, and the ceramic sculptures evoke a sense of fossils at first glance. This invites the viewer to contemplate the traces of the industrial past and nature.

“Elegance in a Fragile Step” is being exhibited simultaneously with the 18th Istanbul Biennial. How does it parallel the themes of the Biennial?

Elegance in a Fragile Step reflects the theme of resilience within fragility, emphasized by the 18th Istanbul Biennial. The Biennial's Three-Legged Cat metaphor symbolizes the power of rising even in fragile moments, while Rabadzhiyski's works offer a hopeful perspective through wounded beauty.

The works in the exhibition combine the traces of destruction with acts of rescue. Could you describe how you established the balance between these two opposing elements and what kind of experience you aimed to offer the viewer?

In our curatorial approach, we strived to present the traces of destruction and the restorations equally. In Rabadzhiyski's works, we displayed deformed, rusted surfaces side by side: for example, a crack in the panels is accompanied by colors that confirm it. This way, each work appears damaged and revitalized.

The works in the exhibition convey a language that responds to the forces of nature. How do you integrate this theme with the artist's work?

Todor Rabadzhiyski's works are in constant dialogue with nature, and his field projects and workshops envision the shaping of his materials through natural processes. For example, in his Levietan installation, metals are transformed by the colors and influences of nature under the influence of sun, wind, and rain, and the video in Istanbul clearly demonstrates Levietan's transformation with the wind and sun. Furthermore, the traces of oxidation, cracking, and rust on ceramic and metal surfaces give the viewer a sense of how materials interact with natural conditions.

Finally, for those interested in learning more about Todor Rabadzhiyski's art, could you tell us about his other projects and upcoming exhibitions?

Todor Rabadzhiyski is a versatile artist, producing paintings, sculptures, installations, and multimedia works. He is internationally recognized and has won awards in young artist competitions in Poland and Russia. For future information about Rabadzhiyski's upcoming exhibitions and collaborations, please follow the announcements from Collect Gallery and To Collect Contemporary Art.

Vladimir Iliev: "Istanbul's vibrant artistic ecosystem and strategic location inspire us."
You've added Türkiye to your art gallery ventures in Bulgaria and Greece. What inspired you to open a gallery in Türkiye?

Istanbul is a dynamic art hub and serves as a bridge connecting East and West. Our first step as part of the To Collect Contemporary Art platform was +359 Gallery in Sofia. Then, in 2022, we opened Collect Gallery in Istanbul, and being in Istanbul was a natural step to take our vision international; the city's vibrant artistic ecosystem and strategic location inspire us.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Turkish art scene when comparing Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece?

Istanbul's art scene is very vibrant and large. Last year, we exhibited many local and international artists in our gallery, and they attracted great attention. In this respect, Turkey's advantage is its large and vibrant market; its disadvantage is its highly competitive and dynamically unpredictable market. Bulgaria has a smaller art scene, but there's a strong support network among artists. Greece, with its rich history, has been attracting young artists in recent years.

What projects do you plan to exhibit at the gallery?

Our new space features Bulgarian artist Todor Rabadzhiyski's solo exhibition, "Elegance in a Fragile Step." This project is the final leg of a three-phase exhibition cycle in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. We also continue to work on international projects, such as Limnos Land Art, our open-air art event in Limnos.

We're showcasing the work of a Bulgarian-born artist in the gallery's new space. Is promoting the recognition of Bulgarian artists in Türkiye among your artistic goals? Similarly, could artists from Turkey find space in your galleries in Greece or Bulgaria?

Absolutely. Our gallery's goal is to foster cross-border artistic relationships. We bring Bulgarian artists to Turkey. For example, Elenka Nazarova's last exhibition was held in Istanbul. Todor Rabadzhiyski is also an artist of Bulgarian origin; we're continuing this path by bringing him to Istanbul. Similarly, we attach great importance to the presence of Turkish artists in Greece or Bulgaria.

What are your criteria for selecting the artists you will work with?

Our priority is the relevance of the artist's concept and production to contemporary art. As stated on our gallery website, we seek works that define contemporary art. Aesthetic and conceptual integrity are crucial: We value the aesthetic and conceptual integrity of the artists we select, support their work, and strive to reach a wide audience.

Reporter: Ahmet Çağatay Bayraktar
Source: https://www.24saatgazetesi.com/todor-rabadzhiyski-istanbuldaki-ilk-sergisi-kirilgan-adimda-zarafet-ile-sanatseverler-ile-bulustu