Borjana Ventzislavova is based in Vienna and Sofia. She graduated MA in visual media art/digital art at the University for Applied Arts Vienna.
 

Ventsislavova works in the fields of photography, film/video, installation, new media and deals with issues such as identity, mobility, marginalization of individuals, as well as different social groups, migration and cohabitation. In her works she explores everyday connections and social relationships and examines how individual and collective histories interact.
 

Her works have been exhibited internationally in solo and group shows as well as at media art and film festivals, including MUSA, Triennale Linz 1.0, Sammlung Essl, Thomas K. Lang Gallery, Gallery bäckerstrasse4, Austrian Cultural Forum, Washington DC and London, Bulgarian Cultural Inst. Vienna Haus Wittgenstein, ICA London, ex-garage, Maribor, Sofia City Art Gallery, National Art Gallery Sofia, Academia Gallery, Sofia, ICA Sofia, Art Today Plovdiv, filmwinter, Stuttgart, Rencontres internationales, etc.
 

She has received the Austrian State Scholarship for Fine Art 2013, numerous grants and awards for projects, Start Scholarship for Fine Art 2009, Otto Prutscher Fonds Award 2006, Susmann Stiftung Award 2005, recognitions at Art in Motion 2002, Los Angeles, Ars Electronica, 2002, Linz.
 

She was artist in residence in London (ACF), Rom (BMUKK), Newcastle (ISIS Arts), Berkeley (CEC Artslink), Los Angeles (MAK Schindler). Her works are part of private and public collections.
 

Contact

Email: borjana@nebudu.net

Website: http://borjana.net

Borjana Ventzislavova

Photo: Borjana Ventzislavova

WONDERLAND is an ongoing photographic project, part of the Selected Homes series. Borjana Ventzislavova explores in WONDERLAND urban and architectural developments as well as the radical changes in the surrounding environment that have been taking place in Bulgaria for the last 20 years. The artist depicts moments and real situations of architectural interventions, and puts forward, as matter for debate, issues and actual problems that are integral for the region's ethical and visual culture.
 

Through the title photo work, which shows SOFIA from a bird's eye view with the light sign "WONDERLAND" in the middle, the artist exhibits enthusiasm with and levels critique at the changes that have been taking place. The work comments on the surrounding public space and the urban environment - realms where absurdity and awkwardness are distinct and have become normality. The title of the work and its presentation in the light boxes refer directly to the specifics of the native atmosphere.
 

WONDERLAND was shown in the exhibition Games, curated by Bozhidar Boyadzhiev. The show was part of the project Idea for Home, dedicated to 80th anniversary since the foundation of the Union of Bulgarian Artists in Bulgaria. It took place between 19.11. - 05.12.2012 in Academia Gallery, Sofia.
 

Participants: Borjana Ventzislavova, Bozhidar Boyadzhiev, Emil Zhelyazkov, Georgi Passev, Konstantin Achkov, Lazar Lyutakov, Miroslav Nicic, Petja Dimitrova, San Dokan, Simeon Stoilov, Vassil Abadzhiev.

Media coverage:

http://www.dnevnik.bg/2012/11/14/da_poigraem_na_izlojbata_igrachki_galeriya_akademiya/

http://tochka.bg/g/view/id/2102-igrachki-v-galeriva-akademiya