"C L OS E R"

“Closer” is my graduation project from Minerva Art Academie. It is a live experience installation inspired by an original location from my home country Bulgaria – an old megalith sanctuary called “Beglik Tash”. Dating from 6th century BC and used by the Thracians, the sanctuary is arranged in a circle, consisting of 14 compositions of gigantic rocks. Each of these compositions were used for different ritualistic purposes. One of them, however, really stood out for me. “The Labyrinth” as it is named, is represented by 2 rocks each approximately 6m high that are positioned in such way, they naturally form a passage of nearly 60 cm width. It is very narrow indeed and one has to pass it because the legend says once the passage is completed, all their sins will be cleansed or it will be a proof that the visitor had a pure soul. In addition, the passage also contains characteristics of a challenge since it was once used as a method to determine whether a man from the tribe is worthy of becoming a soldier and meeting the oracle. 7m long and 3m hight, “Closer” aims to recreate this experience I myself had once passing through. I want by putting the audience in an uncomfortable space to guarantee them the sense of relief at the end of the passage as well as making them face the personal challenge of going in and getting through the passage.