The authors had to create a photographic work that includes one of the types of cereals that SUICO offers.

We are used to seeing these wonderful, perfect forms of rice grains, beans, lentils, chickpeas and many more as part of various dishes. We anticipate their taste when we see them, but in fact we give them a detailed look very rarely. We would never imagine that they could be the main object of creative interpretation. This very unusualness of the task determines the end result and makes the project so creative and inspiring.

The Art of Grain is an important project not only because it tests our ability to look at the ordinary in a different way, but also because it symbolizes the search for meaning and faith hidden in a small grain.

I can confidently say that in my work as a curator I have never received such an unusual and intriguing invitation as this one: together with seven leading contemporary photographers and visual artists I will stand before the amazing creative force of nature.

Nature, the creator of a variety of small, pearly, colorful and colorless grains, has become a challenge and inspiration for seven completely different photographic works.

"The Art of Grain" is an art project that set itself the task of exceeding the usual parameters of corporate advertising from the very start.

The authors participating in it were invited following a careful analysis of their work so far, the art they create, their personal interests and aesthetic understandings. We expected them all to react in their own way but in tune with their work so far.

curator

Vesela Nozharova

Boryana Pandova was among the first to accept the invitation to participate in "The Art of Grain" project. She hesitated for a long time whether to accept it or not because she had difficulties finding her own approach to the subject. However, once she discovered it, it exploded in a wonderful series of analog photo prints and a great conceptual text. She shamanizes on photographic paper, mixing rice, saffron and olive oil, materials typical of a Mediterranean dish.

Integrating a high dose of unpredictability in her photography, she talks about the unpredictability of the culinary process but also of life itself. As a result of this photographic experiment, a series of images with picturesque power was born.

The works of another author, Yana Lozeva are based on a similar photographic technique. She uses the photogram method. This involves direct illumination of objects placed on photographic paper. After treating the paper with chemicals, the outlines of the objects are clearly visible. In this case, these are chickpeas, quinoa, buckwheat and other grains that indulge in elegant compositions of elements reminiscent of a magical star map.

If the first two photographers build semi-abstract compositions from grains, Valery Poshtarov, famous for his documentary series, creates an intriguing plot composition. "Life Begins with a Game" looks at a group of children playing in the street with colorful beans. In the foreground there is a puddle reflecting the silhouettes of the children and a small floating paper boat. The photograph is black and white, with a very low camera point of view, and the beans act as its compositional and semantic center.

Another author from the selection relies on the individual audience understanding. He also works with beans. Ivan Bogdanov created a realistic, greatly enlarged model of a bean with a height of 160 cm. He made a photo session with this giant bean and selected a single frame. A human figure tossing the grain in the air against the gray sky. This unexpectedness of the situation and the feeling of fantasy are completely in line with the photography's stylistics. It is in sfumato, immersed in soft gray shades.

Another author, Martin Atanasov, also works with beans. He is an artist, photographer and illustrator who often uses the collage technique. Thus he creates an almost sculptural form, collaging various previously photographed beans. The shape resembles a naked body, because of the beige-pink color range, the softness of the shapes, coming from the specific bean curves.

The young Maria Nalbantova is among the leading names on the contemporary art scene. She is an artist, illustrator, but also relies on the camera in her work. Here she surprises us with an ingenious concept. In place of gold engagement rings, instead of a diamond she puts rice grains of different varieties. Looked closely, they shine like precious stones. We are amazed by the richness of shapes, textures and color shades created by nature in such a small grain of rice.

Last but not least, as part of this selection we placed the project of Simeon Levy "Hug / Mung". This is the only photograph presenting a grain from which the stems and leaves of the plant have already emerged. Two sprouted beans with tender stems and leaves, originating from the small mung bean, are entwined in an embrace. The photo is taken at high magnification so that every small hair on the surface of the shoots is visible.

The Art of Grain is an important project not only because it tests our ability to look at the ordinary in a different way, but also because it symbolizes the search for meaning and faith hidden in a small grain.

Her education passed through the art of theater and it was meeting theater that led her to her love of photography and video. In the visual handwriting of her works, she retains the feeling of playfulness and live experience typical of the performing arts.

Experiments from the laboratory for crazy photo recipes:
"I set myself the task of finding the intersection between grain, cooking and photography with a seemingly easy recipe from the influencers' cuisine.
Rice is probably the most affordable food in the world. However, I believe cooking is alchemy, in the best cases - improvisation with an unpredictable end result. 1:0 for rice.

Either way, it's not about culinary records. We are talking about lumen-chemigrams.

Boryana Pandova

Lumen Chemigrame

The lumen-chemigram is a lens-less photographic technique, where the image is achieved through various ingredients, photographic chemistry and objects placed on the photo paper itself, directly under the influence of sunlight. In this case, these objects are rice grains.

The chemigram results are expressive and always unique - just like my cooking, but at least you are not expected to eat them, except maybe with your eyes. In my experiments I used rice, turmeric, paprika and oil, which communicate with the photographic materials.

I had to stop before photography and cooking merged into an unpredicted cookbook of cooking recipes gone wild."