Neno Belchev

The exhibition contains paintings from several cycles that are related to each other: the American series “American Dream Made in China”, the newer cycle “Show me your tongue!” and this one “The Inner Peace of the Platypus”, which is the name of the exhibition. If we look at the title and analyze it, we will probably easily explain why “inner peace”, but is the presence of the word “platypus” in this entire phrase understandable?! The explanation is simple: it is here, because of its essence, which personally fascinates me. So what does the platypus do – a platypus? Without unnecessary details: It lays eggs, but it is not a bird, nor is it a mammal like a mammal. That is, neither – a fish, nor – a crab! The platypus is unique, one of a kind, it is in itself! And I mention it, taking advantage of it to make a comparison: I paint, but I do not carry the label “painter.

Neno Belchev

The paintings in the exhibition have not been shown to the Varna public, and some of them have not been shown to anyone at all. Some of them were made especially for the occasion, and others were simply experiments in a specific direction. They were painted in Los Angeles, Brussels, Dubene and Varna. Sometimes I also make sculpture and video, but I do not feel like a video artist or a sculptor. And in this sense, I am a platypus. And since the exhibition is a direct and literal attempt to look into someone’s head, it could also be called “Dissection or cross-section of a platypus” or even “I know what’s in a surfer’s head without being a surfer”. Ah! We must not forget that the exhibition also aims to gargle with some artists like Damien Hirst and others like him. So the exhibition could also be called: “Gargle with Damien Hirst”, but that would already be a manifestation of bad taste.