Discovery and Otherness in the Era of 5.0
Gallery33 is pleased to be part of the Contemporary Art Forum @buna.varna.
The artists represented by the gallery are Ugo Woatzi, Iliyana Grigorova, and HOSTGALLERY: Sasha Kurmaz, Svilen Nachev, Mihail Novakov, and Siyana Shishkova.
Admission: Free
Ugo Woatzi
Ugo Woatzi is an artist exploring the intersections of queer narratives and utopian imaginary worlds. His work blends various media to create dreamlike environments. Inspired by memory and fiction, Woatzi offers poetic reflections and imagines new possibilities for belonging and transformation—of our bodies and the worlds we inhabit.
In 2024, Woatzi is a resident at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht and currently in residence at WIELS, Brussels. Since 2023, he has been a guest lecturer at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. He holds a Master's degree in Visual Arts from LUCA School of Arts, Brussels.
Woatzi’s works explore spaces—both real and imagined—moving between freedom and constraint. Like chameleons, they reveal and conceal, embodying queer resilience and self-preservation. His collaborative process reflects shared desires and struggles, creating tender yet rebellious images that speak of love, conflict, and longing.
HOSTGALLERY
HOSTGALLERY presents an international exhibition focused on contemporary photography and video art, asking the question: Does the act of photographing still matter in an era of total transformation? In their curatorial collaboration, Raul Zamudio (US) and Ivaylo Hristov (BG) feature works by acclaimed photographers Mihail Novakov (BG) and Svilen Nachev (BG), along with photo and video works by Sasha Kurmaz (UA) and Siyana Shishkova (BG).
American curator Raul Zamudio describes the exhibition as “The Insightful Moment in Four Acts,” drawing a compelling parallel to Henri Cartier-Bresson’s iconic 1952 book “The Decisive Moment”—capturing life in its everyday brilliance. According to Zamudio, the participating artists “expand on Cartier-Bresson’s ‘decisive moment’ in their own unique ways, while also resisting the French photographer’s aesthetic.”
Project: Impact Factors 2: If You Dare.
This project is a continuation of the international photography and video exhibition previously presented at HOSTGALLERY. In their joint initiative, originally titled “Impact Factors: If Shooting Matters,” American curator Raul Zamudio and Bulgarian artist Ivaylo Hristov highlight the significance of image-making in the contemporary context.
This project is realized with the financial support of the National Culture Fund, Bulgaria.
Raul Zamudio is an American independent curator, art historian, and lecturer in art history based in New York City. He is the founder of the independent contemporary art space Proyectos Raul Zamudio in Manhattan and collaborates with Empty Circle, a contemporary art gallery also based in New York.
Ivaylo Hristov (b. 1979) is a Bulgarian artist and curator. He graduated from the National Academy of Arts (2005). Independently and in collaboration, he has curated seven Bulgarian and international projects for HOSTGALLERY, Sofia. He has held 12 solo exhibitions in Bulgaria, Italy, and the USA, debuting at the National Art Gallery in 2004. He has participated in over 90 group and international exhibitions.
Iliyana Grigorova
Over the past year, birdwatching has subtly transformed my creative practice. After completing a bird identification course with BSPB (Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds), I began exploring ways to incorporate this knowledge into my art. Seasonal “missions”—birdwatching, stork counts, bird ringing campaigns—deepened my connection with nature and broadened my perspective.
With a BA in Photography, I returned to Bulgaria and continued experimenting with various media—from printmaking to land art—enriching my photographic work. For me, creation is not merely an act of making, but one of sharing and co-creating with others; dialogue, collaboration, and collective effort become works of art in themselves.
“Winged Citizens from Nowhere” is an ongoing conceptual and satirical project exploring the human-made nature of borders, identity, and belonging through the creation of official-looking passports for migratory birds. The project critiques human divisions and boundaries, forming a critical metaphor that invites viewers to reflect on their own place in the world.
Venue: Gallery 33, Varna 9000, 2A Gabrovo Street
Phone: +359 899 878 333
E-mail: contact@gallery33.art