In honor of the 80th anniversary of the world-renowned sculptor Georgi Chapkanov, FotoFabrika will once again exhibit the photo collection by journalist Ivan Bakalov, dedicated to Chapa and first displayed in 2021 at UniCredit Studio. The new location of the contemporary exhibition is the gallery of the National Academy of Arts "Sv. Luka" in Sofia, and the opening is scheduled for the artist's birthday – January 24.

Journalist and photographer Ivan Bakalov captured the illustrious sculptor over several decades in his studio at different times. Bakalov's lens captured Chapkanov's work over the years, the atmosphere in his studio, and his creations before they were presented to the public. Bakalov managed to document the process of creating some of Georgi Chapkanov's most famous sculptures, including those of Radoy Ralin and Yordan Radichkov, and he captured unique moments of interaction between the sculptor and his models.

These 30 photographs allow us to peer into the sacred workspace of a talent like Georgi Chapkanov through the lens of Ivan Bakalov, helping us gain at least a small understanding of what lies behind the memory of the monument.

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A digital catalog has been created for the exhibition, showcasing various aspects of the author's creative and technological process, as well as presenting his sculptural works located in Sofia.

Georgi Chapkanov (Chapa) has received numerous awards, including sculpture awards from the Union of Bulgarian Artists, the "Rodin" and "Henry Moore" awards from the world's largest open-air sculpture museum in Hakone, Japan, the sculpture award from the New Delhi Arts Triennial in 1991, the "Sulmona" award from the President of Italy for his portrait of director Federico Fellini in 1993, the Grand Prix in Paris in 2002, and more.

Ivan Bakalov is a journalist, photographer, founder, and editor of the e-vestnik.bg website. He is the author of books such as Conspiracies Against Zhivkov - First-Person Stories, In Borisov's Shadow, The Masts at the End of the Street - 5500 km by Car Across the USA, and To Chicago and Beyond on Route 66.

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This project, created in 2021 by FotoFabrika with the support of UniCredit Studio and tailored specifically for the meeting with the students and teachers at the National Academy of Arts "Sv. Luka," is part of the one-year program "Photo Enlargement," supported by the National Culture Fund.

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