SOFIA.- A thought-provoking new exhibition is set to open at the National Historical Museum in Sofia on April 8, 2025, inviting visitors to explore the intricate and often complex relationships between Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey through the lens of contemporary art. Titled "Through the Prism of Borders – Episode 2: Artistic Journeys between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey," the show features the works of five artists who delve into the social, political, and historical realities of this southeastern European border region.

The exhibition, a collaboration with the Italian Platform for Design and Cultural Productions Lungomare, showcases newly created pieces by Esra Ersen, the duo Boris Missirkov and Georgi Bogdanov, Ivan Moudov, and the collective ZimmerFrei, represented by Anna de Manincor. Their diverse artistic approaches engage with the museum's historical collections, prompting a re-examination of established narratives, particularly those concerning Bulgaria's borders with its southern neighbors.

Curated by Katya Angelova, Angelika Burtscher, and Marion Oberhofer, the exhibition is part of the broader "B-Shapes" project, an initiative under the European Union's Horizon Europe program that investigates how borders shape perceptions across European societies. The artworks aim to highlight that borders are not merely static lines on a map but dynamic, ever-evolving spaces where daily life, political forces, and historical accounts intersect. These zones of tension and transformation mold our understanding of identity, memory, and cultural imagination.

Turkish artist Esra Ersen's contribution explores the interplay between personal and collective identities, focusing on how borders can create narratives of belonging and exclusion, particularly for communities affected by state-led homogenization and displacement. The Bulgarian creative team of Boris Missirkov and Georgi Bogdanov present a "Traveling Monument," a poignant reflection on the absence of memorials for those who perished attempting to flee the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Their ephemeral work challenges traditional notions of remembrance and calls for a critical look at historical omissions.

Ivan Moudov, also from Bulgaria, draws inspiration from his walks along the Bulgarian-Turkish border, leading to works that critically engage with contemporary issues. His pieces include a "B-Shapes Repellent" made from local flora, "Border Flowers" created from collected waste, and "Sound Flags," an AI-driven project transforming national flag imagery into sound.

The Italian collective ZimmerFrei, through Anna de Manincor, presents "The Answer Is Over There," a documentary-style work that intertwines the enduring border landscape with intimate stories from local residents, revealing deeper divisions beyond the physical lines on a map.

This exhibition marks a significant moment for the National Historical Museum in Sofia, as it is the first time contemporary art will directly interact with its historical narratives. The artworks are strategically placed both indoors and outdoors across the museum's three floors, encouraging visitors to contemplate how borders, both physical and conceptual, shape national identities and our understanding of history itself. The curators emphasize the exhibition as a call to acknowledge the silences and gaps in the past, transforming the museum into a space for dialogue and fresh perspectives.

"Through the Prism of Borders – Episode 2: Artistic Journeys between Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey" will be open to the public from April 9th to August 29th, 2025. An accompanying publication, featuring essays and artistic contributions, will further explore the exhibition's themes. A public program of workshops, talks, and screenings is also planned, providing an evolving platform for discussing the intersections of borders, aesthetics, and politics. The project underscores that borders are not fixed or neutral but are continuously negotiated and contested spaces.