SOUNDS OF SILENCE

THE SILENT SESSIONS

The series examines situations where verbal communication is limited or entirely absent, exploring the possible underlying reasons. Through visual analogies, Ivanov captures the emotion and behavior associated with moments of silence. The series’ mainly black and white palette symbolizes the meditative aspects of silence, interspersed with spurts of emotion when a question or suggestion is made but not necessarily met with a verbal response. The dark brush strokes in the paintings express frustration or an invitation to resume communication but also reassurance that silence can be tolerated as long as needed. The Silent Sessions series is a thought-provoking exploration of human interaction that transcends language barriers. Ivanov’s skillful use of color, brushwork, and symbolism creates a powerful visual representation of the complexity of communication.

THE LOST PETS

Ivanov continues to treat color in a multilayered approach, introducing a wider palette with brighter and bolder colors. The Lost Pets reflects on the issues of loss, letting go, and the complicated emotions that come with it. Ivanov draws inspiration from his personal experiences during the pandemic, examining such subjects as the loss of loved ones, disrupted relationships, personal conflicts, and friendships that have halted due to relocation. In this series, the “pets” symbolize things that are kept close to the heart, mainly because they offer unconditional love – and these are precisely the objects that we find most difficult to part with. The execution of the series reflects the emotional turmoil of loss through the use of strong gestural brushwork, scraping, and seemingly disjointed and imbalanced compositions in some of the pieces. The Lost Pets is a poignant exploration of loss and the emotional turmoil it brings. The series offers a powerful visual representation of the complexities of grief, including emotions such as sadness, despair, agitation, anger, and the desire to “correct” or compensate for the loss. Yet, even amid the turmoil, Ivanov finds glimpses of hope and the possibility of closure and resolution. The bright colors suggest glimpses of resolve and even hope. Despite the loss, often experienced as unjustified and arbitrary, the order of things may be restored, and there are ways to move forward and beyond the trauma of loss.

Iliyan Ivanov, MD, also specializes in Child Psychiatry. He is Site Division Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Morningside and full Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Although this in no way limits his artistic purpose and growth, it certainly has been as much of a tool as his paint and hand brush.

Iliyan Ivanov received his artistic education at National Academy of Design, School of Fine Arts, New York, NY and George Yanakiev Art Studio, Burgas, Bulgaria. His work was exhibited in various galleries and museums such as Denise Bibro Fine Art, NYC, Brooklyn Gallery, NYC; Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY;  Sideshow Gallery, NYC; Nina Torres Gallery, Miami, FL; Pierre Menard Gallery, Cambridge, MA; Thomas Jaeckel Gallery, NYC; 440 Gallery, NYC; Broadway Gallery, NYC; Albright-Knox Art Museum, Buffalo, NY;  Vagabond Gallery, Berlin, Germany, among many others. Ivanov’s works have been shown in such institutions as the US Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria; Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria, New York. Among the fairs his artworks were shown at are Biennial Art Fair, Fridge Art Fair, Cosmopolitan Art Fair, Clio Art Fair among others. His work was written about in such magazines as Artery, Circle Foundation for the Arts Quarterly Magazine, Contemporary Art Curator, Art & Beyond.