The exhibition presents a series of paintings created by Ivo Milev as a result of his intense meetings and conversations with the artist Emil Stoychev. Although the paintings are not the work of Stoychev, they bear his presence. The shadow of these conversations, unspoken words and moments of mutual understanding also lives in them.
“The reason for this exhibition lies in my meetings with Emil Stoychev over a long period during 2024 and 2025. The occasion was the organization of his anniversary exhibition “Imagination Is My Circulatory System” at the Sofia City Art Gallery (SCAG). People who had known him before warned me that it would be difficult to work with him, as he has a difficult character. “I am a somewhat secretive person,” Emil Stoychev says about himself. “Reserved and non-communicative,” writes Aksinia Dzhurova about him. Indeed, he is cautious, reveals little of himself, and is rather skeptical. This skepticism in his relationships remains constant — sometimes hidden behind kindness and almost childlike trust — yet it always lingers in the background, like a restless predator. I believe this cautiousness, this ever-watchful attitude, persists even towards his closest friends. He has left the circle of trust open only to his closest ones, to his family environment. It was definitely not going to be easy for me with Emil Stoychev…
Our meetings and discussions about the upcoming exhibition went through various trials and challenges. Sometimes I was frustrated with him, other times I agreed with him, but in the end, I came to realize that he was right — that he knew what he wanted and how to achieve it. In fact, slowly and with difficulty, we earned each other’s trust, and I believe that in the end, we became friends. I understood this when he began to joke — with his slightly peculiar and strange sense of humor, both ironic and self-ironic. Such is this exhibition as well, and I believe Emil Stoychev will understand me.”
-Ivo Milev
