Konstantin Achkov – Design
13 October – 29 November 2026
Opening: 13 October, 6:00 p.m.
Where does design end and sculpture begin? In Konstantin Achkov’s work, the boundary between the two has never been clearly defined. A graduate in Sculpture from the National Academy of Art, where he studied in the studio of Prof. Krum Damyanov, Achkov has developed his own approach to the object over the years – one in which structure, material and function are simultaneously an engineering challenge and an artistic concern.
The exhibition Konstantin Achkov – Design at Ruse Art Gallery presents new objects made of wood and plywood. Their surfaces are charred to a deep black, punctuated by vivid interventions of colour. Sections of the material are carved both mechanically and by hand, and into these recessed areas the artist incorporates wooden elements and coloured yarns, sealing them with transparent and coloured resin.
In this way, plywood – a material familiar from Achkov’s previous work – ceases to serve merely as a structural element. It is cut, charred, carved, layered and combined with materials of contrasting character. The black surfaces and colourful inlays transform the material itself into an active part of the visual language.
For years, Konstantin Achkov has worked at the intersection of sculpture and product design. His practice encompasses tensegrity structures, puzzle-like and self-locking systems, furniture made from a single sheet of plywood, and objects that combine sculptural thinking with function. His projects have been presented at international design events in London, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, Stockholm and Venice.
In 2009, Achkov was among the designers of the Cherga group who took part in the first collective Bulgarian presentation at 100% Design London. One of the elements in the Ruse exhibition reaches back to that moment – a stylised tree constructed from plywood panels, originally developed for the group’s stand in London.
At Ruse Art Gallery, the tree will become part of a new spatial environment together with the other objects. The artist envisages an unconventional arrangement incorporating light, allowing the works to be experienced not simply as individual design objects, but as elements of an integrated spatial composition.
Konstantin Achkov was born in 1973. He holds a Master’s degree in Sculpture from the National Academy of Art. His practice spans sculpture, product design and furniture design. Tensegrity structures and self-locking puzzle constructions are among the distinctive strands of his work. He has received awards for product design and has participated in numerous exhibitions and design events in Bulgaria and abroad.
