To Pavel Koychev, form (form creation and metamorphosis) has always been paramount. Creating forms, placing them in a natural environment, and confronting them with the latter is his signature style. Featured in the natural or urban landscape, his creations look like aliens in their abodes, flying or ditched houses; schools of fish leaving their water environment trying to find their way on dry land; herds grazing on water; cows having failed to enter the concert hall… Aliens in a strange world whom we sympathize with. ‘Space does not need us’, says Pavel Koychev. Possible alternative forms in a world of necessities. This world can only be confronted by human imagination and the act of artistic creation.

Once, in a more poetic vision of the cosmos, it took four elements to build people and the world: the concepts of fire, water, earth and air seeking various forms in which to manifest themselves. Contrasting and mutually exclusive, they settle down in resignation once they find the desired forms of manifestation. The latter set them free, turning them elemental. The world rests upon the internal dynamics contained by forms. The balance keeping our world intact is so fragile. And we are forced to live in a world of cooperation. Which is the very idea behind this exhibition…

This is a custom-designed exhibition tailored to the spatial characteristics of the Sofia City Art Gallery. It features four thematic sculpture installations comprising more than 30 figural elements. The exhibition is accompanied by a documentary about its creation (film director and director of photography: Stefan N. Shterev) and a catalogue.

The project was brought to life in partnership with the Process-Space Foundation, as well as with kind support from the Ministry of Culture, the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation, Aurubis Bulgaria, Sopharma AD, Geotrading AD, DPM Metals Chelopech EAD, UniCredit Bulbank AD.