What was the highlight of your year?
This year of MBA Contemporary art was interesting and very enriching for me. The intense pace of classes and visits allowed me to quickly immerse myself in the Parisian and European contemporary art world. The choice of French professors and international professionals proved very effective for discovering the global art market in just a few months.
Moreover, taking the program in English was perfect for meeting people from all over the world. Some have become close friends whom I greatly appreciate for their talent, intelligence and personal qualities.
Can you describe your project this year?
My group project was a success, despite a few communication problems among the members of our team. We found a current concept that could represent both our different backgrounds and our shared interests. Coming from four countries and three different continents, we created the exhibition Invisible Walls, where we presented digital works by the Mexican artist Raphael Durand and poignant photographs by the Chinese photojournalist Yixuan Ping. Feedback from our visitors was very positive.
Can you tell us about your internship experiences?
Between September and December 2017, I was lucky enough to complete two internships, thanks to the advice of Ms. Sylvana Lorenz from the internship office.
My first internship at the Baudoin Lebon gallery (Paris 3) lasted one month, during which I discovered how a traditional Parisian gallery operates, with an impressive photography collection. In total, between works by renowned photographers and works by Dubuffet, there were nearly 20,000 works to discover.
My second internship lasted three months at the new contemporary art exhibition space Art Absolument (Paris 13). During this internship, I was lucky enough to work not only at the Art Elysées, Outsider Art Fair Paris, AKAA (Also Known As Africa), and SOON Paris fairs, but also to take an active part in installing two exhibitions at the Art Absolument space. The group exhibition Outsider Art - Art Brut brought together works by fourteen self-taught artists, selected at the Outsider Art Fair Paris by the French artist and curator Eva Jospin. For the solo exhibition L’Espace de la Pensée, a selection of works by the Algerian artist Yazid Oulab was assembled for the enjoyment of contemporary art lovers.
What are your projects?
The first project started immediately after our graduation ceremony on February 17. With two other IESA International alumni, Lassla Esquivel and Yenfu Lu, we want to bring all IESA alumni together in a single network: IESA Alumni Official. Social media allows us to keep in touch and follow the progress of our careers around the globe, which is why we decided to work simultaneously on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Our idea will be developed in the coming months, and we would like to bring together as many alumni as possible in Paris next October, during FIAC week.
As for my personal projects, after fifteen years of living in Paris, I decided to begin the next chapter of my life and the next step in my career in Sofia (Bulgaria), my hometown. In this city, internationally scaled exhibition projects are already taking shape, and I am actively working to expand my local network in the arts and culture fields. Other artistic projects are on the horizon for the coming months, and I hope to tell you about them very soon.