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VERONIKA TZEKOVA
 
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Veronika Tzekova
1973 born in Vratza, Bulgaria
Lives in Graz, Austria
Education

MFA, Dutch Art Institute (DAI), postgraduate interdisciplinary research in visual arts and media, Enschede, The Netherlands, 1999-2001, speciality multimedia, mixed media
Art Academy "Jules Piscine", Sofia, Bulgaria, 1995-1998, speciality drawing and painting.

Grants

Fellowships and residencies:

ACSL - Art and Cultural Studies Laboratory, Yerevan, Armenia, 2012
MPRA residency program, Poznan, Poland, 2012
Blacksea Calling residency, <rotor> and Cultural City Network Graz, Graz, Austria, 2012
The Art of Urban Intervention, blitz residency, ICA-Sofia (Institute of Contemporary Art), Sofia, Bulgaria, 2011
UNIDEE in Residence International Program, Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella, Italy, 2010
Artist Residency at the Villa Straeuli, Winterhur, Switzerland, grant by prohelvetia, 2009
7th Asia-Europe Art Camp: ‘Moved, mutated and disturbed identities’, an Art Workshop for Visual Arts 2009/2010, Casino Luxembourg.
Terra Summer Residency, Terra Foundation for American Art, Giverny, France, 2007
Backyard Residencies program, Platform, Istanbul, Turkey, 2006
KulturKontakt scholarship program “Artist in residence”, Vienna, Austria, 2005
Transnational Spaces, Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, Dessau, Germany; grant by the Federal Cultural Foundation, Germany, 2004/2005

Solo Exhibitions

2016:
iGRAZ. Space Appropriatos, self-publishing book project
Cdoupbles, 2013 - ongoing, a project dealing with visual construction and perception of text
2015:
iGraz, Space Appropriator, pop-up play, Tummelplatz, Graz, Austria
iGraz, Space Appropriator, flashmob, Tummelplatz, Graz, Austria (in the program of Designmonat Graz 2015)
Game CHAlleNGE with veroniKATZE, Mau Shi restaurant, Graz, Austria (in the program of Designmonat Graz 2015)
2014:
Die Grazer Magnolien, map, artistic research and text work.
Space Appropriators, urban space appropriations, Graz, Austria
2013:
Twistered Tic-tac-toe, performance, in front of and with Grazer Kunstverein, Graz, Austria
Space Appropriators, urban space appropriations, Graz, Austria
Gamifying IKEA, exhibited at PIMP dein IKEA, Ikea Vösendorf and used for urban space appropriations in Graz, Austrisa
XO City/ Graz, FRida & freD – Das Grazer Kindermuseum, Graz, Austria
rEVOLUTION, for Tools for Design Revolution, project by the IDRV — Institute of Design Research Vienna, Austria
Play Unlimited/ Poznan, publication project, Municipal Publishing House, Poznan, Poland
2012:
Space Appropriator #6/Security Overturned, intervention in urban space and group performance, Sofia Contemporary, Sofia, Bulgaria
FOOOOTBALLLL, land art installation and group performance, “Plovdiv” stadium, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
LOVEOFPWEROFLOVE, urban intervention, Yerevan, Armenia
FOOOOTBALLLL, land art installation and group performance, Cytadela Park, Poznan, Poland
CHAlleNGED Games, Arsenal Gallery, Poznan, Poland
Space Appropriator #4 / KD Ludo,commissioned by <rotor>, Graz, in the frame of the project INSIDE ANNENVIERTEL! Work on the Future of an Urban Society and applied on pieces of urban furniture particular for the city
PARK&PLAY (within the framework of the project (No) Standing Anytime), urban intervention, Graz, Austria
PARK&PLANT (within the framework of the project (No) Standing Anytime), urban intervention, Graz, Austria
COuNTINUOUS, Design of outdoors space, games and landscape design. Children’s boarding house, Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia Design Week 2012, In context, with new release of the Challenged Games series
Challenged Games, Galerie Centrum, Graz, Austria
Challenged Games, participatory urban interventions,Include the City Festival, Burgas, Bulgaria
2011:
Space Appropriators (Urban Olympics 2011), interventions in public space, Sofia, Bulgaria
2010:
Space NRGZer#4, intervention in public space, Biella, Italy
Dadissuasori, intervention in public space, La Pigna, San Remo, Italy
Space NRGZer#1, intervention in public space, Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Como, Italy
2009:
Symbols Mutations, Villa Straeuli, Winterthur, Switzerland
Hacking the City, interventions in public space, Luxembourg
2008-2011:
WUMAMPAROI (When You Make a Mistake Put a Rose on It), interventions in public space, Sofia, Bulgaria
2006:
homeLESS Art ≠ LESS Art, interdisciplinary workshop and ideas campaign for (re)discovering potential art spaces
Patterns of Abandonment, Goethe Institute Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
2005:
Ask a Man Who Owns One, Bulgarian Cultural Institute, Vienna, Austria
Reconstructed Identity, sculpture in public space, commissioned by BELEF, Belgrade Summer Festival, Belgrade, Serbia
EuroMosque- conceptual framework and project idea for an open design competition for re/constructing new European appearance and representation of mosques in the city based on existing typologies of appropriated urban spaces for religious needs by Muslim migrants in Kreuzberg, Berlin. The project is developed in the context and as part of the Bauhaus Kolleg VI - Transnational Spaces, 2004-2005.
2002-2005:
Sweetshirt project, the project employs any kind of advertisement media, exhibition presentations and performances:
- Jamming pro~ and anti~, action, Dessau, Germany, 2005
- Quest for Turkishness, performance, Istanbul, Turkey, 2005
- Scanning notions of Turkishness, performance, Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany, 2004
- Fame Cards, Free Cards Advertising Media Ltd., issue of 10 000, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2002
2001:
Mimicry, DAI, Enschede, The Netherlands

Group Exhibitions

2016:
photo graz_Selection 014, Kulturzentrum HD Herceg Stjepan Kosaca, Mostar, Bosna i Hercegovina
photo graz_Selection 014, Akademie der bildenden Künste / Galerija ALU, Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina
Festival der Spiele 2016 / 30 Jahre Ludovico, Kunsthaus Graz, Graz, Austria
Förderungspreis des Landes Steiermark für zeitgenössische bildende Kunst 2016, Neue Galerie Graz, Graz, Austria
Das Graphische Element, Österreichisches Kulturforum Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
photo graz_Selection 014, MSUV - Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
LICHT LUFT SONNE, Kunst!, FORUM STADTPARK, Graz, Austria
photo graz_Selection 014, Lazareti, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Buchstabenfest 2016, Zollamt, Bad Radkersburg, Austria
photo graz_Selection 014, Muzej - Museo Lapidarium, Novigrad – Cittanova, Croatia
photo graz_Selection 014, Gradski muzej Vukovar, Dvorac Eltz - Galerija Oranžerija, Vukovar, Croatia
photo graz_Selection 014, Gradske Galerije Osijek - Galerija Waldinger, Osijek, Croatia
2015:
photo graz_Selection 014, Österreichisches Kulturforum Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
photo graz_Selection 014, Centar za kulturu Čakovec, Čakovec, Croatia
Variofocus – ARTISTS Exhibition, Focus Bulgaria at viennacontemporary 2015, Vienna, Austria
Licht Luft Sonne, Kunst!, FORUM STADTPARK, Graz, Austria
Designmonat Graz 2015
Recent Arrivals, Sammlung Graz, Galerie am Flughafen Graz
2014:
photo_graz 014, Biennale der steirischen Fotokunst, Kunstfreiraum Papierfabrik, Graz, Austria
Fragen an das Werk, gallery of Pädagogische Hochschule Steiermark
BLACK SEA CALLING – ON TOUR, Art Today Association, Center for Contemporary Art - The Ancient Bath, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2013:
design8en, designforum Steiermark im Kunsthaus Graz
Dress Up, ICA-Sofia Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
BLACK SEA CALLING AIR exhibition, Hilger BROTKunsthalle, Vienna, Austria
Arrivals/ Departures, Galerie Centrum, Graz, Austria
PIMP dein IKEA, Ikea Vösendorf, Austria, with CHAlleNGED GAMES
Get Lost, walk performance in public space, Graz, Austria
Tools for Design Revolution, Designmonat Graz 2013, Designhalle, Graz, Austria
2012:
20 Years: KKA Artists in Residence. Launching Careers, Building Cooperation, VIENNAFAIR 2012, Austria
(No) Standing Anytime, Graz, Austria
Practices in Public Environment, Regional History Museum - Plovdiv, Plovdid, Bulgaria
Magnet and Antimagnet, ICA-Sofia Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
What Drawing You Would Put in a Drawer, OGMS Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2011:
GO11 Award for Urban Alternate Use, Exchange Radical Moments Festival, Berlin, Germany
Art of Urban Intervention, ICA-Sofia Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Unlimited, Art project depot, Mtel Awards for Contemporary Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria
Gaudenz B. Ruf Award for New Bulgarian Art- Shortlist 2011, Raiko Aleksiev Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Free Port of Art, CEI Trieste Exhibition of Contemporary Visual Art, promoted by the Italian Pavilion at the 54th International Art Exhibition– La Biennale di Venezia, Warehouse 26, Old Harbor of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
After the Flight, ICA-Sofia Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Big Bang, Credo Bonum Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2010:
Museum Souvenirs, ICA-Sofia Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
UNIDEE in progress, Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoleto, Biella, Italy
Coup de ville, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
Utopian City, a project by Danube Foundation, Red House, Sofia, Bulgaria
2009:
Sofia Remixed, Sofia Architecture Week, Sofia, Bulgaria
Moved, mutated and disturbed identities, Casino Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Wenn Werte Form Werden, Vlaikova Cinema; Goethe Institut, Sofia, Bulgaria; Corridor Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2007:
Suitcase Illuminated#5 on Parallel Economy, Mac/Val - Musee d'art Contemporain du Val de Marne, Paris, France
After/Before, Centre Culturel de Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg
Suitcase Illuminated#5 on Parallel Economy, P74 Center and Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Shrinking Cities, Dauhaus, Sofia, Bulgaria
2006:
KulturKontakt Austria Artists in Residence 2005 - One year after, Bank Austria Kunstforum TRESOR, Vienna, Austria
Important Announcement, Sofia City Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
Motherland project, Kunsvlaai 6, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Urban Legends, Sofia Art City Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
2005:
Corporately Yours, KulturKontakt Austria Artist in Residence work presentation, Wienstation, Vienna, Austria
Biscuit Winter, Dauhaus, Sofia, Bulgaria
Transnational Spaces, Bauhaus, Dessau, Germany
2003:
Young Balkan Artists- Variations in Balkan Spaces, part of “New Balkans” organized by Cultural Olympiad 2001- 2004, Thessaloniki, Greece
Sweets under Hammer, Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, Germany
Billboart Gallery SK, sublabel part of Billboart Gallery Europe exhibition, billboard galleries held in the exposed areas of Bratislava, Slovakia
BLOOD: Lines and Connections, Museum of Contemporary Art/ Denver, USA
Facts and Fiction, Haus Wittgenstein, Vienna, Austria
In den Schluchten des Balkan, Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, Germany
Biennial “PHODAR” - 2003, “Ilia Beshkov” Gallery, Pleven, Bulgaria
2001:
Foreign Affairs, Euro-Bulgarian Cultural Center, Sofia, Bulgaria - "Mimicry", curator of the exhibition
Open Scenarios, Exposorium VU, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2000:
TO DAI FOR, Villa Weiner, Ochtrup, Germany, co-curator of the exhibition
1999:
Like the cheese to the burger, the burger to the bun, MEG Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Kunstvlaai 3, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1997
Smirnoff Fashion Awards nominees show, Sofia, Bulgaria

Collections

Space Appropriators, photos, Stadt Graz
Street Tic-tac-toe, Cultural center "Sea Casino", Burgas, Bulgaria
99.99% PURE, from the series Ask a Man who Owns One. Private, Vienna, Austria
Sweetshirt, Private, Vienna, Austria
Sweetshirt, edition Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, Germany. Private.

Bibliography

Publications:

iGRAZ. Space Appropriatos, self-publishing book project, 2016, English/German, p.160, ISBN-13: 978-1537617305
Play Unlimited / Poznan, playable postcards in etui cover, Municipal Publishing House, Poznan, Poland, 2013
veronika tzekova: space nrgzers, www.designboom.com, 13 march 2011
St.art, book, self-published, limited edition, 2010
EuroMosque, Transnational Spaces, edited by Regina Bittner, Wilfred Hackenbroich, Kai
Vöckler, Jovis, Edition Bauhaus, 2007
Who, What, When, How and Where about Reconstructed Identity, Kanape,
magazine, Sofia, 2006
Patterns of Abandonment, Kanape, magazine, Sofia, 2006
Scanning Notions of Turkishness and EuroMosque, Bauhaus Kolleg VI, Transnational
spaces /research &projects/, Germany, 2005

Selected catalogues and media coverage:

Förderungspreis des Landes Steiermark für zeitgenössische bildende Kunst 2016, catalogue, Neue Galerie Graz, UMJ, Graz, Austria, 2016
Landes Kunst und Kultur Preise 2016, Land Steiermark, A9 Kultur, Europa Außenbeziehunge, Graz, Austria, 2016
photo_graz 016, Die actuelle steirische Fotoszene, catalogue, Kulturvermittlung Steiermark, Graz, Austria, 2016
photo graz selection, catalogue, Österreichisches Kulturforum Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, 2015
Making Ideas Visible, Designmonat Graz 2015, Creative Industries Styria, Graz, Austria, 2015
Design in the City, guide, Designmonat Graz 2015, Creative Industries Styria, Graz, Austria, 2015
Art for Change 1985-2015, Sofia City Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2015
Public Art. Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Steiermark 2012-2013, Elisabeth Fiedler, Dirck Möllmann, Verlag für moderne Kunst Wien, Vienna, Austria, 2015
best practice (2007-2013), Bundeskanzleramt, Sektion Kultur, Abt. EU-Kulturpolitik, Creative Europe Desk – Culture,Vienna, Austria, 2014
photo_graz 014, Die actuelle steirische Fotoszene, catalogue, Kulturvermittlung Steiermark, Graz, Austria, 2014
The Art of Urban Intervention, Judith Laister, Margarethe Makovec, Anton Lederer, Löcker Verlag, Vienna, Austria, 2014
Sofia Contemporary 2012 - Present Unlimited, catalogue, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2014
Werkzeuge für die Design-Revolution, Institute for Design Research Vienna, 2013
Heritage, Identity and Communication in Contemporary European Art Practices, catalogue, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Brandenburg, 2012
Moved, Mutated and Disturbed Identities, Casino Luxembourg- Forum dárt contemporain, Luxembourg, 2012
photo_graz 012, Die actuelle steirische Fotoszene, catalogue, Kulturvermittlung Steiermark, Graz, Austria, 2012
The Bulgarian Nouvelle Vague, Edno, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2012
20 Years: KKA Artists in Residence. Launching Careers, Building Cooperation, catalogue, KulturKontakt Austria, ,Vienna, Austria, 2012
Constructing Utopias: European Vistas, DANUBE FOUNDATION, 2012
http://haskovoplaygrounds.blogspot.com/2012/07/veronika-tzekova-childhood-in-city-is.html; feature interview
(No) Standing Anytime, catalogue, zweintopf, Graz, Austria, 2012
Practices in Public Environment, catalogue, Regional History Museum - Plovdiv, HR-Stamenov and Bora Petkova, Plovdid, Bulgaria, 2012
Trust Design, Part Four (of four)/Public Trust, Stichting Archis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2012
Veronika Tzekova: Hacking the City, feature interview with Dessislava Pavlova, Edno Magazine, Sofia, Bulgaria, Issue Winter 2011
Continental Breakfast. Place of Encounter, Trieste Contemporanea, Trieste, Italy, 2011
Brachland: Bulgariens Kunstszene in der Krise, Anne Katrin Fessler, Der Standard, Vienna, Austria, 2011
Gaudenz B. Ruf Award for New Bulgarian Art-Shortlist 2011, catalogue, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2011
Unlimited'11, catalogue, Mtel Awards for Contemporary Arts, Art Project Depot, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2011
Free Port of Art, catalogue, CEI and Trieste Contemporanea, Italy, 2011
Coup de ville, catalogue, curated by Stefan Van Bellingen and Jan Hoet, Sint Niklaas, Belgium, 2010
La Stampa, Riappropriamoci dei vicoli la cultura è un grimaldello, 24 August, 2010
Wenn Werte Form Werden, catalogue, Goethe-Institut Bulgarien, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2009
After/Before, catalogue, Josef Pauschenwein, Luxembourg, 2007
Suitcase Illuminated#5/On Parallel Econom, catalogue, Katia Angelova& Alessandra Poggianti, Milan, Italy, 2007
KulturKontakt Austria Artists in Residence 2005 - One year after, catalogue, KulturKontakt Austria, Vienna, Austria, 2006
Important Announcement, catalogue, Sofia City Art Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2006
Danube Flood Relief Benefit Auction, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, catalogue, Vienna, Austria, 2006
The Balkans Trilogy, edited by Rene Block and Marius Babias, 2006
Democracy, newspaper, Margarita Boicheva, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2006
Radio Deutsche Welle, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2006
Bulgarian National Radio, “Something More” program, interview, 2005
Concentration, catalogue Belgrade Summer Festival, BELEF-centar, Belgrade, Serbia, 2005
Glas Iavnosti, newspaper, Belgrade, Serbia, “Milk in Coca-Cola”, 2005
Politika, newspaper, Belgrade, Serbia, “How global becomes local”, 2005
Balkan Reunion/ Pub(lic) Conference publication, part of “In the Cities of the Balkans”, 2nd part of the “Balkan Trilogy” project, initiated by the Kunsthalle Fridericianum and funded by Kultur Stiftung des Bundes, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2005
Altera magazine, Diana Popova, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2005
7 Wonders/ 7 Sins, catalogue, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2005
In den Schluchten des Balkan, catalogue, Documenta und Museum Fridericianum Veranstaltungs GmbH, Kassel, Germany, 2003
Young Balkan Artists - Variations in a Balkan Space, catalogue, Hellenic Culture Organization S.A., Thessaloniki, Greece, 2003
Kompas, free weekly cultural guide, 2003, "Sweetshirt" project
Contemporary magazine, London, UK, David D'Agostino, December 2002
Contemporary magazine, London, UK, September 2002
Nova TV, "Time for culture", Sofia, Bulgaria, Nadejda Tunik, 2001
Bulgarian National Television, Morning block, Culture edition, Sofia, Bulgaria, Albena Aleksandrova, 2001
The Sofia Echo, Sofia, Bulgaria, Rozalia Hristova, 2001
Democracy, Sofia, Bulgaria, Ruen Ruenov, 2001
The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Canada, Gary Michael Dault, October 1999

Links

veronikatze.com
challengedgames.blogspot.co.at
vimeo.com/veronikatzekova
St.art book can be viewed online at: www.blurb.com/books/1617590
artnews.org/veronikatzekova

Awards and nominations:

Förderungspreis des Landes Steiermark für zeitgenössische bildende Kunst, Arbeitsstipendium des Landes Steiermark für zeitgenössische bildende Kunst 2016
Pimp dein IKEA design competition, first prize, 2013
Gaudenz B. Ruf Award for New Bulgarian Art, Sofia, Bulgaria, nominee in category “Advanced Artists”, 2011
Unlimited, Mtel Awards for Contemporary Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria, nominee, 2011
GO11 AWARD FOR URBAN ALTERNATE USE, nominee, 2011

Contact