The water tower in the Sofia district of Lozenets has officially turned into home of the newest contemporary art gallery in the Bulgarian capital. The tower, built in 1929, is one of the emblematic buildings of Sofia and after years of discussions about its future, the doors of the new +359 Gallery were officially opened with the annual contemporary art exhibition organized by the Austrian Embassy in Bulgaria.

The exhibition entitled "We Are Part of a Collection" is a work by artist Boryana Ventsislavova, who has been living in Austria. The project casts a glance at the youth underground culture in Bulgaria at the end of socialism and the dawn of democratic changes. Curator of the exhibition is Vera Mlechevska, and co-organizer of the event is the Doma Art Foundation.

The exhibition is a poetic and fragmented narrative about years of maturing. "The contradictions and contrasts of the period had their hybrid and self-made aesthetics," Vera Mlechevska says. As they climb the stairs of the tower, visitors see installations, photographs, lyrics and newspaper clippings from the 80's and the beginning of the 90's. The title of the exhibition was borrowed from a song of Bulgarian dark-wave band "Нова генерация" (New Generation), whose work is characterized by sincerity and represents a strong expression of free spirit.

A special concert attracted the attention to the exhibition and the new gallery in the tower. “Виолетов генерал” (Violet General), who are also part of the new wave and post-punk scene in Bulgarian music, performed after 23 years of absence from the stage. The space around the tower filled with people, who showed that the band, founded by Emil Valev and Evgeni Genchev-Juli, has a reserved place in the hearts of fans of avant-garde music in this country. "Violet General" plan to make their fans happy once again on October 20 in the city of Plovdiv as the event is part of the Electric Orpheus monthly mini festival there.

"We are Part of a Collection" continues until October 22 and the old water tower in Sofia with the newly-opened +359 Gallery promises to remain one of the attractive spots in the Bulgarian capital city.

Photos: Alexander Markov and +359 Gallery