Ivan Iliev
Biography
Ivan Iliev, Artist graduated in painting and graphic.Born in Burgas, Bulgaria. Study at the academy of arts in Sofia. Since 1990 lives and works as a
free-lance artist in Vienna, Austria.
1991-2021
Numerous group and single exhibitions, among others:
Artistic Confessions Hamburg 2014.
Winner Artist at ARTPROTAONIST 2015 Villa Contarini.
La Natura non e morta, Chi Art Gallery Milano 2015.
Gallery All’Angolo Mendrisio Shwitzerland 2015.11
Biancoscuro Art Exhibition, PAT Pavia, 2018.
Nothing but Art, Palazzo Velli Roma 2019.
Kunstraum der Ringstraßen Galerien Wien 2019.
ARTBOX PROJEKT Miami 2.0 2019.
EuroArtFair Amsterdam 2019.
Palladio's Friends, Villa Caldogno 2020.
Meinung & Urteil, Kunstraum Wien 2021.
Silver Award Winner of the "ShowArtists"
Emerging Artist Discovery Prize Art Competition 2012.
3rd prize at the "2013 International Art Contest” Australia.
3rd prize at "Leonardo da Vinci in Memoriam," Savona 2019.
II Memorial TIZIANO BERTOLO Novara Itaiy,
first place in section painting 2020.
"Artist of the Future Award" Contemporary Art Curator Magazin 2020.
Artist Statement
The visible world is a narrative of forms and colours. To read it and to reinvent it in a personal context is the most intriguing privilege of the artist, I think.
What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?
Probably when as a child I realized I will not have the chance to be a sailor. As they say, “every child is an artist”, so I just had no choice (just kidding). I actually cannot remember something that pushed me to go this way. I was open to everything but somehow, I always knew I will be a painter. In fact, most of the men in my family have either been artists or doctors and being an artist was considered something special. In my opinion one cannot “become” an artist, that is a part of our self, or mind. All you can do is, through hard work, to become a better one. A fascinating journey with ups and downs, never boring.
What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?
More than hundred years ago, 1919, at a time when visual arts were at a stage of permanent revolution, Giorgio de Chirico answered the same question with three famous words: "pictor classicus sum". I would like to see my artistic career, as humble it might be, the same way, as a part of a continuum. From the great thrilling past, towards the challenges of the unpredictable future.
What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?
Three cornerstones comprise the primary characteristics of my artistic work: the care for detail, the love of nature and my affinity for late Renaissance and Baroque painting. I am coming across the subjects of my paintings in reality, just around me, every day. The plants that have always fascinated me, are not only nature forms - perfect by design - but like any creation in the world around us, also equivalent with the message of growing and withering, the flowing time. I like to think about all that; it can be found as a main theme in my artworks and the Still life painting is a fine way to tell stories. Many great artists have done it in an incredible manner. All my life I am trying to understand what these greats were after, with the hope to find my own way.
Can you explain the process of creating your work?
I always give my ideas enough time to grow, sometimes a process of years. There is usually more than one idea in my mind. Often they change and transform during this stage of budding. Many sketches and drawings are needed to the point I decide to take the brush in my hand, but even then, nothing is absolutely fixed. The artwork has a kind of own life and its own will, sometimes a very dominant one. I have a guiding role only at the beginning, but hardly know what the end will looking like precisely in details and when I'll set it. Anyway, there is a point I realize, I just can do no more, I sign it and the same story begins anew with the next one. That's my way.
What is your favourite part of the creative process?
Definitely the very first stage. The idea is perfect, the material world is not. During any process of material realization something is going lost, no matter who is the master, technology always set its limits, that is life.
Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?
I'm still a strong believer, there will be a "post-covid" time and we will get back our normal way to live, do business and travel. The "virtual reality" we artists live in now , I mean the online connections we are using now are just an option to remain in touch, but not a long time solution. I'm waiting for the day when we will be able to meet friends, shake hands in real space and actually work on projects and create. Until then, I'm just keeping the course, between the walls of my studio. My best regards to all mates who also face this particular situation. Stay healthy!
Website: http://www.ivan-iliev.eu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essenovburgas/
