Rehearsal – Kalin Serapionov

National Gallery – Kvadrat 500 / 16.06.2026 – 16.08.2026

Opening on Tuesday, 16 June, at 6 p.m. The series titled ‘Postfactum’ presents the projects ranked second and third according to the points awarded in the national competition for Bulgaria’s participation in the 2026 Venice Art Biennale. Ideas that—although not showcased as a National Pavilion—are an essential part of the process of forming the Bulgarian presence in the most prestigious international forum for contemporary art. The idea arises from the need for the competition for the Bulgarian Pavilion to be considered not only as a selection mechanism but also as a field for artistic debate, where different visions of contemporary art, its themes, language and social functions meet. The National Gallery draws attention to the value of the selection process itself: to the ideas, concepts, and artistic searches that fall outside the final selection, but are no less significant for our cultural milieu. The project aims to engage the professional community and general public alike in a conversation about the role of contemporary art today, the mechanisms of cultural representation and the place of Bulgaria in the international artistic context. “In the video installation Rehearsal, Kalin Serapionov traces the relationships between fourteen people placed within the symbolic and metaphorical space of a rehearsal room. The action unfolds without a predetermined dramaturgy or choreography. The rehearsal is conceived as a life process that takes place in the present moment. It is simultaneously a preparation and the ultimate goal of the artwork. The participants are encouraged to observe their own reactions, guided by intuition and spontaneity. Without words, but through gestures, body language, hands that hold one another, and eyes that meet, the participants begin to communicate through slow, ritualistic movements. Their bodies form figurative compositions that tell stories of human relationships and emotions: empathy, affection, jealousy, loneliness, and anticipation. The understanding of intimacy and togetherness is conveyed through the behavior of the body. In Rehearsal, Kalin Serapionov poses important questions to the audience. One of them is: Can we be together—truly, physically together—in a time when everyone is alone?” Vessela Nozharova, Curator Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency. Kalin Serapionov Born in 1967 in Vratsa, Bulgaria. Graduated from the National Academy of Arts in 1996. He has been working with video since the late 1990s. His interest is focused on the ability of this medium to produce suspense without “collapsing” into narrative conventions. He explores the boundaries of different human relationships, communities, characters, habits, behavior, and interrelationships. His works strive to create a powerful and highly impactful vision that simultaneously utilizes the achievements of contemporary society while also taking a critical treatment toward the clichés it creates. He has participated in various exhibitions such as: Manifesta 4, Frankfurt (2002); Blood & Honey, Essl Museum, Vienna (2003); In the Gorges of the Balkans, Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel (2003); Heterotopias, 1-st Thessaloniki biennale (2007); Sounds & Visions, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv (2009); Indefinite Destinations, DEPO, Istanbul (2010); Site Inspection, Ludwig Museum, Budapest (2011); As Far Away As Near, solo show, ICA-Sofia (2013); Choose Training, solo show, Contemporary Space, Varna (2014); Grammar of Freedom / Five Lessons, Garage, Moscow (2015); Forms of Coexistence, Structura Gallery, Sofia (2018); Festival of the Regions 2019 – Social Warmth, Perg, Austria (2019); Open Art Files: Notes and Footnotes, Kapana Gallery, Plovdiv (2019); The Dessert, solo show, Structira gallery, Sofia (2020); 25 Years and 5 Themes Later, National Gallery, Sofia (2020); Shooting Ghosts, Blinkvideo.de (2020-2021); Farce – the Way We Live, Curated by Vienna, MAM Gallery, (2021); Selfsplaining (a Triumph of Empathy), Manifesta 14, Prishtina (2022); About the Walls Next to Me, solo show, ONE+ Gallery, Sofia (2022); The Drawing – Without Limitations, Structura Gallery, Sofia (2023); The Time is Now, Mala Stanica – National Gallery of R. N. Macedonia (2023); The Better Part of Us, Structura Gallery, Sofia (2024); EgoSystem / Eco System, City Art Gallery Varna, Forum BUNA (2024); Dog Days, Structura Gallery, Sofia (2024); In Front of The Eyes, solo show, National Gallery, Sofia (20242025); If You Nothing To Do, Don’t Do It Here!, solo show, Octopus Gallery, Sofia (2025); Do We Remember What We Have Forgotten?, ICA-Sofia (2025); A Piece of River, National Autumn Exhibitions, Plovdiv (2025); Screens and Schemes, Karpuchina Gallery, Prague / Kredo Bonum, Sofia (2025) His works are part of the collections of the National Gallery, the Sofia City Art Gallery, the State Cultural Institute, and private collections in Bulgaria and abroad.