Ruse Becomes a Stage of Contemporary Art: start of Festival of Contemporary Art – Ruse, 2025
4 June – 31 July 2025
Opening: 4 June 2025, 6 pm
Art Gallery – Ruse launches the first edition of “Festival of Contemporary Art – Ruse, 2025” – a new cultural initiative with the ambition to become an annual platform for contemporary visual art in Bulgaria.
From 4 June to 31 July, five locations in Ruse will become a stage for exhibitions, video installations, screenings, artistic meetings, workshops, discussions and presentations. The aim is to establish Ruse as an active centre of contemporary art, presenting artists who work on the border between experimental image and personal narrative.
The festival is realized with the support of the Culture Programme of the Ruse Municipality and creates an opportunity for an active cultural exchange between the Bulgarian and international scene.
Opening exhibition – three strong artistic voices from Bulgaria and Europe:
Georgi Ruzhev (Bulgaria)
“BOLLYWOOD4EVER”:
A video installation inspired by the aesthetics of Indian cinema, combining remixed Bollywood music and street performances and symbols from cultures and religions, revealing countercultural ideas and struggles. Bollywood is a metaphor that unites traditions and myths. The Art Gallery – Ruse becomes a Bollywood cinema, posing questions about modernity through theatrical images.
“DARK ROOTS – NEW OUTLETS. THE ALTERNATION OF COMICS”
A bold visual experiment that rethinks the language of comics and transforms it into a platform for contemporary expression. The project traces the evolution of comics from its roots to its possible future forms.
(Georgi Ruzhev will attend the opening in person.)
Miroslava Yankova (Bulgaria)
“DISTRIBUTION”
An animated film selected for the prestigious MIAF and Tampere festivals, which explores the state of inner anxiety and disorientation in the contemporary world. Through abstract visual imagery and symbolism, Yankova creates a deeply personal and universal narrative that challenges the viewer to reflect on inner conflicts and the search for meaning.
Boris Labé (France)
“THE LAKE”
An impressive video installation that combines digital animation and nature symbolism. With hypnotic rhythm and precise graphics, Labé creates a world between the real and the imaginary, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of contemplation and discover hidden emotions.
“KYRIELLE”
Inspired by the traditional French poetic form of the kireille, this work is an anthem of rhythm and repetition. Through abstract shapes and colors, Labé creates visual poetry that is both dynamic and meditative, challenging the viewer to seek their own interpretations.
“Contemporary Art Festival – Rousse, 2025 is an intellectual and emotional journey – an experience that inspires, provokes and brings together through the language of contemporary art.
Ruse Art Gallery invites you to discover new perspectives and become part of a new beginning for Ruse.
