L.Y.R.A. – Bulgaria – Ritual art
L.Y.R.A. is a project by Darina /Rina/ and Dimitar /Nigor Pilnatsa/ aimed to create Ritual art. They are artists and lawyers who live and work in Bulgaria. Darina and Dimitar are also the organizers of the Old School Residency – Gorna Lipnitsa, Bulgaria. They have been organizing various art events since 2010. In 2012 L.Y.R.A. started their work on creation and development of Ritual art /RA/ as a form of art. The idea for its creation is a result of continuous search for a modern and conceptual vision of art that integrates the principles of rituals and ancient knowledge. At the heart of Ritual art are the ideas of the Manifest 2012 of the Old School Circle for the Beginning of the New World.
Ritual art follows a clear goal of public significance that goes beyond the familiar and known, and at the same time is understandable outside the limits of planet Earth. In 2014 L.Y.R.A. developed the idea for Star Ritual art /STAR RA/.
In their works L.Y.R.A. mix the old knowledge and symbols with principles of modern physics / quantum theory and theory of relativity/ along with legal/ political models and techniques. Their works are ritually created imaginary sanctuaries including paintings, collages, texts, objects and performances. Each work is a result of previous research and study of the specific topic. At the end of this process the accumulated knowledge is incorporated in the work.
L.Y.R.A. work with the idea that every ritual artist is a creator and legislator who works in a peaceful and balanced state of mind to be able to perceive the fundamental unity of the Universe. Only in this case its actions create interactions that dynamically change and transform the Universe.
The New Politicians/Gates of Time
/Ritual installation, consisting of five portraits, an icon, two collages, a painting, a blank space, video, books,texts/
The New Politicians/Gates of Time – image from the closing exhibition of the Old School residency, Bulgaria – Ritual art: Time and Space, 22.08.2015 г., Gorna Lipnitsa
Statement:
From time immemorial people had organized their lives in groups in which only a few were leaders and the majority followed them. Among leaders and followers there has always been interaction and cooperation, yet conflicts and contradictions were not rare. Depending on the nature of this connection people shaped the world they lived in – a harmonious and creative reality or a place filled with imbalance and destruction. It turned out that the particular time and space, as well as the people inhabiting it were proportional to the matter which formed their leaders. And so it is today – the time and the people who live in it – their ideals, passions and aspirations are reflected onto those who lead them. What is happening today in the political reality indicates that the Time for a new type of leaders has come, leaders unknown to our history so far – Leaders-Creators.
The New Politicians/Gates of Time installation uses the specific quality of time and resembles a key that will open the door through which the new leaders of the world will come.
The installation is a dynamically created and unfinished structure that evolves over time depending on the viewer /observer/. In this sense, how it will be understood and what effect it is going to have depends on the people observing it and the qualities they possess. It is possible its full manifestation to remain “unlocked” here and now, but the important thing is that the process has been started.
The installation which is created in the form of an altar represents a mechanism consisting of different elements. The altar contains three time zones – past, present and future in the form of a time cone and a scale situated outside of it, is used as a tool for measuring time. The point situated in the center is the present moment /Now/ presented in the form of a Tarot card – XIII. Death. The card visualizes rituals performed for destruction of the present political order. These rituals were prepared and conducted in a careful and focused selection of the right time and place in the period October 2014 – August 2015. They include the following ritual techniques: fragmentation, inhumation and burning. The whole process of ritual making has been captured on video.
In the bottom part of the time cone – Past – are situated portraits of leaders from the World history with indisputable characteristics of a leader. A decisive factor for the particular person was the fact that each of them possesses charisma and ability to rule the masses by leading them onto an idea or goal. Led by the idea of modern physics concerning the existence of parallel realities and the manifestation of the same event more than once, we chose to present these leaders by one of their images that would meet the objectives of the installation. This new interpretation of the old leaders will have an impact on the formation of the new politicians in the Future time zone, but only after their final transformation at the point – Now. Regardless of what they have become known in life for, each one of them possesses at least one quality that the new leaders should have. Following the principle of progression and that every new thing is built on the basis of something old, in order for the new politicians to exist they first have to embody the knowledge and experience of history.
Among the portraits of politicians is situated icon of the most honored Bulgarian saint and healer – St. John of Rila. With this we aim to transfer purity and holiness to the new leaders.
In the Past time zone of the cone through a collage is presented the worldwide political situation in the last few years – protests against the government and the existing order. Although they represent events from different parts of the world what they have in common is that they are aimed at the same objective and reflect the aspirations of the people for new governance. In the collages are integrated Internet photos of protests along with symbols of Kabbalah.
At the top of the Future time cone are situated two elements. In the center there is a stylized image of the new politicians, presented as a community, but unclear as a specific form. In the very upper part there is an unfinished canvas, which aims to show how new politicians will interact with the society. As the materialization of this process is yet to be finished, i.e. exists only on a conceptual plan, it is still invisible to the eyes of the spectator.
L.Y.R.A., 2015
80 x 70 сm, collage, mixed media on canvas
In the Past time zone of the cone through a collage is presented the worldwide political situation in the last few years – protests against the government and the existing order. Although they represent events from different parts of the world what they have in common is that they are aimed at the same objective and reflect the aspirations of the people for new governance. In the collages are integrated Internet photos of protests along with symbols of Kabbalah.
80 x 60 cm,collage, mixed media on canvas
The point situated in the center is the present moment /Now/ presented in the form of a Tarot card – XIII. Death. The card visualizes rituals performed for destruction of the present political order.
37 x 23 cm, acrylic on cardboard
At the top of the Future time cone are situated two elements. In the center there is a stylized image of the new politicians, presented as a community, but unclear as a specific form.
116 x 73 сm, white canvas
In the very upper part there is an unfinished canvas, which aims to show how new politicians will interact with the society. As the materialization of this process is yet to be finished, i.e. exists only on a conceptual plan, it is still invisible to the eyes of the spectator.
Boris I of Bulgaria (852-907)
37 сm x 23 сm, acrylic on cardboard
Saint John of Rila ( 876-946)
35 сm x 24 сm, acrylic on cardboard
Joan of Ark (1412-1431)
37 сm x 23 сm, acrylic on cardboard
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
37 сm x 23 сm, acrylic on cardboard
Stefan Stambolov (1854-1895)
37 сm x 23 сm, acrylic on cardboard
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)
37 сm x 23 сm, acrylic on cardboard
These rituals were prepared and conducted in a careful and focused selection of the right time and place in the period October 2014 – August 2015. They include the following ritual techniques: fragmentation, inhumation and burning. The whole process of ritual making has been captured on video:
Organizing and Conducting of Ritual Art – Time and Space edition of the Old School residency is financed under BG 08 Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Arts Programme of the EEA Financial Mechanism.
