Stefka Georgieva

The following artwork will be shown as part of the EVROVIZION.CROSSING STORIES AND SPACES project:

Pray!, textiles, recycled plastic bags, golden lamé, yarn, beads, sequins, 250 x 250 x 250 cm, Varna/BG, 2023.
© Stefka Georgieva

In her works, Stefka Georgieva depicts various historical and cultural contexts of places, the question of origin and the role of women. By using archetypal representations of women, she emphasises the importance of the collective unconscious in the process of shaping gender roles and gender relations in society. On the one hand, her artworks illustrate the problems of oppression that patriarchy exerts on women and nature; on the other hand, they also suggest alternatives: Georgieva draws on the artistic and mythological forms of ancient civilizations, polytheistic beliefs and Slavic traditions that consider nature and women to be sacred and the mind and body to be inseparable. These are artistic practices that are close to ecofeminism.

The central motifs of Georgieva’s works are anthropomorphic female figures. With her weaving technique and use of decorated threads, beads and yarn, she emphasises attributes traditionally associated with women’s work and femininity. At the same time, the artist combines spatial forms and ornamental elements with choices of colour, texture and pattern to create works of art that double as media for conveying and preserving information – highlighting the work of women and their contribution to the community. She also uses unconventional materials like plastic bags, tape, polyethylene and plastic waste to draw attention to the problem of environmental pollution and the rapid accumulation of waste.

Through her artistic work, Georgieva reflects on the negative aspects of human behaviour that are disrupting the natural balance and accelerating changes in the Earth’s climate cycles. In doing so, she points to the need for social and artistic action to promote environmental awareness and a collective responsibility for the environment within one’s own community.

Stefka Georgieva (b. 1976, Yambol/BG) is a contemporary artist based in Varna. She graduated in Painting from the Vasil Levski Professional School in Yambol in 1995. Her artistic practice encompasses installations, drawings, and sculptures, often reflecting on the complexities of modern life and cultural identity. Georgieva integrates her Bulgarian heritage into her work while addressing the universal challenges of globalization and shifting identities. Her pieces encourage viewers to engage in reflection and dialogue about the complexities of modern existence.

Georgieva's art is known for its introspective quality and engagement with themes of vanity and pretension in contemporary hypermodern reality. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she received a four-month residency at the Centre Européen d'Actions Artistiques Contemporaines in Strasbourg in 2008. Georgieva lives and works in Varna/BG.

The following artwork will be shown as part of the EVROVIZION.CROSSING STORIES AND SPACES project:

Pray!, textiles, recycled plastic bags, golden lamé, yarn, beads, sequins, 250 x 250 x 250 cm, Varna/BG, 2023.
© Stefka Georgieva

In her works, Stefka Georgieva depicts various historical and cultural contexts of places, the question of origin and the role of women. By using archetypal representations of women, she emphasises the importance of the collective unconscious in the process of shaping gender roles and gender relations in society. On the one hand, her artworks illustrate the problems of oppression that patriarchy exerts on women and nature; on the other hand, they also suggest alternatives: Georgieva draws on the artistic and mythological forms of ancient civilizations, polytheistic beliefs and Slavic
traditions that consider nature and women to be sacred and the mind and body to be inseparable. These are artistic practices that are close to ecofeminism.

The central motifs of Georgieva’s works are anthropomorphic female figures. With her weaving technique and use of decorated threads, beads and yarn, she emphasises attributes traditionally associated with women’s work and femininity. At the same time, the artist combines spatial forms and ornamental elements with choices of colour, texture and pattern to create works of art that double as media for conveying and preserving information – highlighting the work of women and their contribution to the community. She also uses unconventional materials like plastic bags, tape, polyethylene and plastic waste to draw attention to the problem of environmental pollution and the rapid accumulation of waste.

Through her artistic work, Georgieva reflects on the negative aspects of human behaviour that are disrupting the natural balance and accelerating changes in the Earth’s climate cycles. In doing so, she points to the need for social and artistic action to promote environmental awareness and a collective responsibility for the environment within one’s own community.