At one of the biggest cultural events in China, the 23^rd edition of the Beijing Art Expo, 2023 which took place at the beginning of the month, Bulgarian artist Valentin Yordanov presents his own rendition of Art Leading the Future. For over 10 years, Valentin Yordanov has been living in the US.  

• Las Vegas-based artist Valentin Yordanov will participate at Beijing Art Expo

“The series of works is a reflection of the dynamic world we live in – from the moment the world shut down up until today when everything is faster and everyone is everywhere,” Valentin Yordanov said in an interview with Radio Bulgaria about his participation in the major international art event in Beijing.

“I presented nine large-scale paintings, some were 2 by 2 metres,” says Valentin Yordanov, and adds that six of his works were created specifically for this exhibition. “After arranging the pictures with my curator and gallerist in Beijing, the organizers told me this was one of the biggest Bulgarian events in Beijing and at this art forum in 22 years. They also said they would be on the lookout in future for more Bulgarian events and artists – they were very pleased because everyone who had come to the pavilion had been very curious about the paintings, where they come from. We had also put up a poster of me, with information about Bulgaria, about the pictures.”

The artist admits Asia is a new horizon for him – it is one of the modern centres for presenting art with a great many connoisseurs and collectors. That is the reason why he is now considering staging a solo exhibition in Beijing, he is also going to take part in an art show in Seoul. But before that he will take part in the Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas, September 22-24. The invitation for participation in the festival came just as he was starting work on a new, interesting project:

“I started work on several pictures with LED lights because in most of my works I take inspiration from Las Vegas – from buildings, from the lights. I started making installations with platforms, lights and drawings, and at that precise moment one of the biggest festivals in Nevada – Life is Beautiful, which is going to close the central part of Las Vegas – asked me if I wanted to take part in the 10^th edition of the forum. That is a great opportunity. I am going to have a work there that is 3 by 3 metres, with LED lights, lots of abstract urbanistic colour elements, very dynamic – I added some elements from the surrounding mountains as well.”

More:

• Valentin Yordanov - the Bulgarian who changed the face of Las Vegas

Interview by Maria Samichkova

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos courtesy of Valentin Yordanov