Liana DIMITROVA
Born in Varna in 1981, Varna, Bulgaria. Currently lives and works in Sofia, Bulgaria.
A graduate of the National Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia, BA in Book and Print Design and Illustration and MA in Industrial Design, LIA was born in Varna, Bulgaria, raised in Asmara, Eritrea during the war, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - AFRICA - experiences between different cultures that formed her aesthetics and personality. She has numerous solo exhibitions and participations in group exhibitions of contemporary art and festivals across Europe, North America and Asia. Lia has lived and worked in Africa and Canada as well she has specialised in Perugia - Italy, Cuenca - Spain and Toronto - Canada. Liana works as a creative&art director, graphic designer for lots of publish houses, magazines, for the theatre, as well she works as production designer for the film industry. Works by the artist are included in the permanent collections of numerous prestigious institutions worldwide.
BIO
SOME WORDS ABOUT
Liana Dimitrova is a contemporary artist, creative director and designer. Originally from Varna, having spent her childhood in Ethiopia, Liana specialises, studies and works in Bulgaria, Italy, Spain and Toronto, which contributes to a universal and genuinely human tone in her artistic expression. There are no ready answers in Liana's works. There is a philosophical-artistic study in highly expressive paintings. As a contemporary visual artist, her essence lies in bold movement, the discovery of new forms of expression that cross the usual boundaries. Apart from the activation of colour, the compositions impress with a lightness that could not be the result of casual talent, but the result of a conscious and controlled reduction process. In addition to being an artist, Liana actively works as a creative and art director in cinema and theatre, she has created numerous magazines and graphic materials for films, productions, festivals. Between her professional skills in typography, graphic design, book design, illustration, magazine design, poster design, pre print production, concept, advertising, drawing, painting, Lia balances with a firmed, powerful and unpredictable swing for which mediocrity is unknown. Liana Dimitrova currently lives and work in Sofia, Bulgaria. She graduated from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia in 2003 with BA in Book and Print Design and Illustration and majoring in Industrial Design. She has numerous solo exhibitions and participations in group exhibitions of contemporary art and festivals across Europe, North America and Asia. Works by the artist are included in the permanent collections of numerous prestigious institutions worldwide, including the collections in Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Italy etc.
EDUCATION
2014 – MA in Industrial Design - Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria
2004 - OCAD University - Communication Design Program, Toronto, Canada
2002 - Universidad de Castilla la Mancha - Cuenca, Spain - Faculty of Fine Arts - Specialization in multimedia, graphic design, video, editing, installation
2001 - Universita ’per stranieri - Fine Arts and Specialization, Perugia, Italy
1999 - 2003 - National Academy of Arts - Bachelor's degree, specialty "Book and printed graphics / illustration"
1994 - 1999 - High School of Fine Arts "Dobri Hristov" - Varna
1991 - 1995 - Scuola Italiana Statale - Asmara, Eritrea and Instituto Statale Italiano, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa
SOLO SHOWS
2021 – KvArtal Festival annual solo exhibition – V64 contemporary space, Sofia;
2019 – Stick Place – solo work - Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2017 – solo exhibition – A&G Art Meeting Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria;
2015 – solo exhibition – State Gallery of the city of Varna, Bulgaria
2014 – 9 th edition of the Contemporary art Biennale of Varna, Bulgaria
2012 – Solo exhibition - Contempo Festival for Contemporay Art, Varna, Bulgaria
2009 – “Hypertonia” Installation – Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2009 – Solo exhibition – Lik Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
WORK EXPERIENCE
2014-2018 - Creative Director of A-Specto Media Group; Art director of the magazine for Political Culture “a-specto”, Sofia, Bulgaria
2015 - Concept and design of the Junior Eurovision catalog
for the Bulgarian National Television, Sofia, Bulgaria
2015 - Art director and design of the Film festival Golden Rose, Varna, Bulgaria
2015 - 2016 - Creative and design of “NT Magazine”, National Theater “Ivan Vazov”, Sofia, Bulgaria
2014 – Concept and graphics for Sofia Dance Week, Sofia
2011 - 2015 – “Ivan Vazov” National Theater - Design and Concept of the Graphic Visions of the Performances of A. Morfov and J. Gardev, Sofia, Bulgaria
2012 - 2013 - HAVAS Pr - Executive Creative - Sofia, Bulgaria
2013 - BUFO Production - graphic design of FP “Jarheads field of fire”
2009 - 2012 - Max Magazine - Art Director - Sofia, Bulgaria
2009 - Madame Figaro Magazine - Art Director - Sofia, Bulgaria
2008 - McCann Erickson Bulgaria - Art Director -
Clients: Nescafe 3 in 1 - TV advertising, BTL, etc..; Opel; Maybelline;
Pharma Health - Sofia, Bulgaria
2006 - The Incredible Clothing Company - Graphic Design -
Toronto, Canada
2005 - Veritime Inc. - Graphic Design - Toronto, Canada
2004 - Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Calgary, AB -
Graphic Design - Canada
2003 - Art in Bulgaria Magazine - graphic design, Sofia, Bulgaria
GROUP SHOWS
2022 – Group Exhibition at 59 Rivoli, Paris, France
2022 – Group Exhibition in Maison Bruneau, Paris, France
2021 – Kulturnatta! Liana & Christo med NFT Art på Gallery&More / Konst Utställning – Gallery & more, Gothenburg, Sweden
2021 – international group exhibition “Conspicuous Interactions” Kiev, Ukraine
2021 – international works om paper “Non interactive to interactive” Miami, USA;
2021 – KvArtal Festival annual solo exhibition – V64 contemporary space, Sofia;
2021 - Contemporary Art International Exhibition - Allusion Habitat / Vraćar Municipality - The Pric/ze is Right, Belgrade, Serbia
2021 - Just Love – group exhibition - Arosita Gallery & DEPOO, Sofia, Bulgaria
2020 - Stick Place – solo work - Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2019 - Danube Dialogues – Flags of Identity - Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2019 – Spring contemporary art festival - S T A I C H K I, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
2019 – In love forever – Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2019 – Stick Place – solo work - Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2018 – Duo exhibit – Gallery & more, Gothenburg, Sweden;
2018 – For Fans Only – group exhibition – art sale - Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2017 – Contemporary Art Simposium – Teteven, Bulgaria;
2017 – solo exhibition – A&G Art Meeting Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria;
2015 – solo exhibition – State Gallery of the city of Varna, Bulgaria
2015 – group exhibition – Resonance Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
2015 – “Bulgarian Cultural Forum”, Bulgarian cultural institute, Berlin and Vienna
2014 – 9 th edition of the Contemporary art Biennale of Varna, Bulgaria
2014 – 2 x 2 group exhibition – Resonance Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
2015 - 2013 – “Bulgarian Cultural Forum” in Timisoara, Romania
2013 – Endless cities – group exhibition, Graffity Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2013 – “(e)migration” - group exhibition – Bulart Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2013 – “The New 100” – group exhibition – Resonance Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
2013 – “Love Hospital” – group exhibition – UBA - Rayko Alexiev Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2012 – Solo exhibition - Contempo Festival for Contemporay Art, Varna, Bulgaria
2011 – Section 13, “Shipka” 6 Gallery, Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2010 – Non conventional art exhibit, “Industrialna” 11 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2010 – Section 13 group exhibition, “Industrialna” 11 Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2009 – “Hypertonia” Installation – Arosita Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2009 – Night of museums and galleries, “Shipka” 6 Gallery, Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2009 – Solo exhibition – Lik Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2009 – Section 13, “Shipka” 6 Gallery, Union of Bulgarian Artists, Sofia, Bulgaria;
2008 – “Patkovaca”, International Art Festival, Bosnia;
2008 – “Process-Space” International Contemporary Art Festival, Balchik, Bulgaria
2007 – group exhibition - “Summer Vibes”, Masterpiece Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2007 – “Open doors”, “Process-Space” International Contemporary Art Festival, Balchik, Bulgaria;
2006 – “Happy Hour” - “Process-Space” International Contemporary Art Festival, Balchik, Bulgaria;
2005 – group exhibition - Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Toronto, Canada;
2004 – Contemporary Visual Art Festival, Sredets Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2003 – “Dimensions” – contemporary art symposium, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
2003 – “landscape” – group exhibit - 10 years “Art In Bulgaria” magazine
2002 – “Book-Object”, international exhibit – Belgium, USA, Japan, France
2001 – “Inside Out” “Process-Space” International Contemporary Art Festival – State Gallery of the city of Rousse, Bulgaria
PRESS
Defined as "drawings" probably for several reasons - because of the paper base, because of their exploratory origins, because of their unpretentious look and message - the works are abstractly painted with light contemporary techniques. The mixing of water-based paint types of varying intensity and colour are framed and punctuated by dense rasters and monolithic facets, here and there a figurine or recognisable detail unfolding as energetic yet balanced content the full power of different scale formats - from 50x70 to 5-6sqm. This high exercise in design or the use of Liana Dimitrova's experience as a designer is a very original tool, comprehensively brought out in the realization of the exhibition. A number of "defects" or influences of applied design in contemporary visual culture and aesthetic perception are "redirected" (from the title RE DIRECT) to a spectacular play with "design" - the composition of non-figurative painting in different formats and with a huge range of impacts. Apart from the activation of colour, the compositions impress with a lightness that could not be the result of unforced talent, but the result of a conscious and controlled reduction process. A mark, along with the sense of humor and mood of the compositions of an exhibition that deserves attention.In the text to her exhibition, Leah writes: RE DIRECTION...expresses the search, the finding, the hanging, the wandering... There are different paths and directions we can take that will lead us somewhere. The choice of countries, continents and cities where to settle requires solutions to the questions that confront us, the author writes, perhaps alluding to the contingent nature of the choices one faces. The contingent nature of composition in abstract attempts to master space or the poetics of color as an expression of energy and direction, but also as a confident compositional and color control..Yovo Panchev
About Liana Dimitrova's exhibition at Serdika Gallery, art historian Dimitar Grozdanov says: RECYCLE - RENEW, RESTORE What is this exhibition? What is the thought that develops through it? What is the energy in the image. Why are things made this way. These and many more questions are contained in Liana Dimitrova's exhibition. The problem is that the answers that should follow the questions are difficult and carry no less unknowns. The truth about Liana Dimitrova's paintings penetrates through the energy with which they are created. The images are mostly abstract, but even the most abstract form leads to an analogy with reality, with spirituality, with the philosophy contained in this exhibition. Liana Dimitrova is undoubtedly an artist who conceptually clarifies her works before proceeding to their creation. This is why her works are expressive and, as if the sculpture follows a preliminary energy, which must be the basis of the world that the artist builds. Renewal, re-creation, reinvention, stages, foundations, even resurrection are appropriate metaphors for these works. Their initial organization was around the notion of recycling. A concept accurate enough, but also too technicized for the volcanic energy that characterizes most of them. I think, any borrowing would have limited this exhibition in its definitions. It is centered around an internal motif that is emotional and heartfelt and that moves the artist's hand. Even in some of the figurative work (since the exhibition is mostly abstractions), one senses the overall sculpture more than the organizing figurative emphasis. Liana Dimitrova's exhibition is the kind of phenomena that confronts us with its essence, but also with the essence of contemporary art, the demands of a generation, and the paths that might be mapped out. In this sense, the exhibition represents both a personal characterization and a type of theorization of the problems today. It is for this reason that the artist's next steps fill us with anticipation and a fascinating unknown..Dimitar Grozdanov