A three-day workshop dedicated to urban design and planning was held in Gabrovo as part of the projects “Collective for Gabrovo” and “Art by the Yantra River.”
The main goal of the workshop was to create art along the Yantra River as the result of an inclusive and informed process, based on meaningful dialogue with the local community. In this way, the artistic interventions became an authentic response to the real needs, ideas, and visions of the people of the city. The created artworks and collective efforts were celebrated during the opening of the “Rivers of the City – Gabrovo” festival, which took place between August 23 and 25.
The workshop was open to everyone interested in urban planning, design, and architecture, regardless of their previous experience. The process brought together active citizens, artists, and professionals, united by the desire to contribute to the development of Gabrovo.
As part of the program, participants explored the relationship between the river and the city through five thematic workshops led by artists selected to implement interventions in the public spaces along the banks of the Yantra River. Each workshop presented a different artistic approach and perspective on the riverside environment, laying the foundation for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and collective thinking about the future of the “Rivers of the City – Gabrovo” initiative.
The boats and the cyanotype panel by Bogomil Ivanov and Iliyana Grigorova, collectively titled “Downstream” are the result of a preliminary two-day workshop for decorative boats (which gradually became almost seaworthy). During the workshop, participants created wooden structures inspired by the flow of the Yantra River. Canvases printed using the cyanotype technique were stretched over the boats, containing personal stories and memories connected to the river and the city. The artworks symbolize movement and the continuous connection between people and nature, with each boat carrying a fragment of the community’s collective memory. As members of the land art collective Duppini Art Group, the authors often focus in their work on the use of natural materials and immersion in processes that foster direct contact with nature.
During the workshop led by Aleksandar Valchev, participants had the opportunity to experience the creative potential of an often underestimated material—cardboard. The foundations of the monumental temporary sculpture “The Ruins of an Unbuilt Bridge” were laid during the workshop. Made of cardboard “bricks,” the work alludes to a future bridge intended to connect two parts of Gabrovo. The project is inspired by an architectural proposal for the revitalization of the riverside area that has not yet been realized. Although temporary, the sculpture conveys a powerful message about the connections and transformations needed not only in the urban environment, but in society as a whole—the need for connectivity rather than division. The art installation also raises questions about the interpretation of our historical past and the newly created ruins that often “precede” the non-existent structures from which they supposedly originate. Here, the cardboard “bricks” serve as a metaphor for the temporary and the permanent in our lives, while the bright color adds a plastic-like “aftertaste,” amplifying these questions to an almost screaming intensity.
As part of the workshop led by Lachezar Boyadjiev, participants took part in two riverside actions – “The Water Cycle” and “Water Below, Water Above…” – which transformed the Yantra River into a space for observation, experimentation, and imagination. Water samples were taken at a precisely determined time as a gesture toward the idea of the river’s constancy and change over time, and an “umbrella regatta” was launched along its current. The actions served as a reminder that the river, although urban, is accessible and “ours,” and that through art we can simultaneously inhabit it, care for it, and rethink our relationship with the urban environment.
The installation by Dobrin Atanasov explores the fragile ecological balance of the Yantra River through a series of modules resembling fish heads with open mouths, turned toward the sky. It is inspired by the artist’s personal memories from the period of Late Socialism, when industrial pollution nearly destroyed life in the river. At that time, the Yantra was known as the “Magic River,” changing its color according to the dyes discharged from nearby textile factories. The installation symbolizes the river’s recovery after the ecological crisis and emphasizes the importance of environmental protection.
During the workshop led by Aleksandra Georgieva, participants also had the rare opportunity to experiment with textile tufting and felting techniques. The process resulted in the textile panel “They Say About the People of Gabrovo That…”, which explores the rich history and culture of Gabrovo and the Yantra River through contemporary artistic practices. The installation is the outcome of collaborative work with local residents, who shared personal stories, legends, and memories connected to the city and the river. These narratives were transformed into colorful and expressive textile pieces that reflect the community’s collective memory and identity. The artwork encourages intergenerational dialogue and highlights the importance of local traditions and natural heritage. Through collective creativity, the installation builds a bridge between past and present, demonstrating how art can bring people together and preserve cultural heritage.
