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?”.

(Text by Vessela Nozharova, curator)