2025
What we are looking at is the facade of a Central European inspired 19th/20th century building, currently at a critical point in the discourse about its survivability. Its location can be found at: Sofia Center, ul. Serdika 32. According to local news and concerned citizens, it is a property shared between a private owner and the government, creating an environment prone to discord and neglect, threatening the state of this rapidly decaying architectural gem in the city center. What led to the creation of this drawing is a sincere concern for a building that reveals itself only to those who seek it out. It is a subtle and warm presence, one that does not easily stand out on its narrow street. It almost seems to have surrendered recently, allowing greenery to gradually take over and graffiti to embed itself into the walls. The decorated windows, stone masonry, and wrought-iron balconies are overwhelmed by the passage of time and the surrounding urban fabric. The drawing is a composition that captures two distinct visual styles. The first is a collage of three photographs representing the front view of the building, capturing urban traces such as lamp posts, air conditioners, cables, and other interventions, separated out to emphasize the life layered onto the facade. The second style focuses on material characterization, derived from the photographic collage, achieved by tracing the inconsistencies and imperfections of the building's state, highlighting the details in shadows, depth, steel, glass, and decay. The collage and the drawing had to communicate with one another for the piece to flow as a visual discourse between the layers. Elements flow naturally through the artwork — some recede, while others move forward — creating a stage for an urban superimposition. The movement of these elements follows the perception of the author, broadening the conversation about what we are observing.