ELEMENTS. FORM. SPACE
Anniversary exhibition of Todor Todorov

10 –28 November 2026
National Palace of Culture, Marble Hall

OPENING: 10 November (Tuesday) 2026, 18:00
National Palace of Culture
1 Bulgaria Sq., Sofia 1000

WORKING HOURS: Monday – Sunday, 10:00 – 19:00

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“Elements. Form. Sculpture” is an anniversary exhibition marking the 75th birthday of the sculptor Todor Todorov – an artist with a distinctive creative career, international acclaim and a significant contribution to the development of contemporary monumental sculpture.

The exhibition is part of the Autumn Salon of the Arts at the National Palace of Culture and the 16th edition of the Sofia Paper Art Fest. The exhibition traces the development of an artist who, over the decades, has consistently upheld his artistic independence, pursuing his own ideas and explorations beyond imposed stylistic constraints and the artistic status quo. For Todor Todorov, sculpture has never been merely a matter of form or material. It is a space for experimentation, a philosophical reflection on the world and a ceaseless search for new interactions between humankind, nature and the surrounding environment.

The exhibition will feature sculptures from various creative periods, some of which are kinetic, whilst others produce sound. All of them reveal the development of the artist’s visual language, with his artistic experiments and the systematic development of his own aesthetic and philosophical concept. Special focus will be given to films about various urban environment projects, as well as photographs of monumental sculptures installed in international sculpture parks and public spaces around the world. These visual materials will allow visitors to appreciate the scale of Todorov’s creative ideas and their realisation in various architectural, cultural and natural settings.
Central to his work is his theory of ‘elemental sculpture’ – an innovative concept that considers natural elements and forces as active participants in the artwork. Wind, water, light, movement and changes in the environment become more than mere backdrops; they transform into essential components of the sculpture. This concept is developed in his monograph “Elemental Sculpture: Theory and Practice,” published in English by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in 2014. The book is held in the collections of over 1200 university and national libraries worldwide – a reflection of the international reach of his ideas and the interest in his theory. It has also been presented through exhibitions, lectures and professional discussions in various countries. Todor Todorov’s creative career has been shaped by dozens of monumental works realised in Bulgaria and around the world. His sculptures form part of public spaces, international sculpture parks and architectural ensembles in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. His works combine sculptural expressiveness, engineering ingenuity, dynamism and an attention to the specific environment for which they were created.

The recipient of numerous international awards, Todor Todorov has been recognised for his innovative approaches to monumental and kinetic sculpture. Among his significant achievements are first prizes in the KAO international kinetic sculpture competitions in the USA, an award from the Shanghai Art & Science Biennale, and his participation in prestigious international projects for sculpture in public spaces.
As part of the anniversary exhibition, a monograph on Todor Todorov, written by art historian Boris Danailov, will also be presented. The publication is an important contribution to the interpretation and documentation of the sculptor’s creative legacy. It presents his artistic explorations, the development of his original ideas and his place in contemporary Bulgarian and international sculpture.

It is particularly symbolic that the anniversary exhibition is taking place on the eve of the unveiling of the kinetic sculpture “Dance” at Katara Cultural Village, Doha, Qatar. This international presentation and permanent installation at the global centre for contemporary art is taking place under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Qatar and marks yet another recognition of Todor Todorov’s artistic work. The sculpture “Dance” has a remarkable international history – it was awarded at the Shanghai Biennale of Art and Science in 2007 and was selected as one of twenty works from around the world for permanent display in the Olympic venues in Beijing in 2008. Its forthcoming unveiling in Qatar continues the work’s international journey and reinforces the presence of Bulgarian sculpture in the global public sphere.

“Elements. Form. Space” is more than just an anniversary retrospective. It offers a glimpse into the development of a consistent artistic philosophy, into the courage to seek new means of expression, and into the conviction that art must constantly push its boundaries.

Sofia Paper Art Fest 2026 is realised with the financial support of the Visual Arts Programme of the Ministry of Culture and the Calendar of Cultural Events of Sofia Municipality for 2026.