IV TOSHAIN
IV TOSHAIN is an artist, independent curator and female art activist born in 1980 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She lives and workes in Vienna, Austria. After studying at Accademia delle Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, Italy, the National Art Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria and graduating MA at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria in the master class of Franz Graf, she took part in numerous group and solo exhibitions in USA, Denmark, Czech Republic, Rumania, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, etc. She has exhibited at the Museum for Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna; Belvedere Museum in Vienna; Kunsthalle Project space Vienna; Kunstraum Innsbruck; Kuenstlerhaus Vienna; Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art in Gdansk; Museo della Permanente in Milan; Art Expo / MNAC in Bucharest.
She is co/founder, curator and executive organizer of PARKFAIR – The Avantgarde Art Fair for established and emerging contemporary artists in Vienna. www.parkfair.at
In 2012 she was awarded the MIA AWARD 2012 for outstanding achievements of women with international backgrounds living and working in Austria in the category Art and Culture.
Since 2012 she has been the co/founder of the Art-Label FXXXi̶s̶m̶ Toshain / Ceeh (Vienna-Sofia-St.Petersburg). The art collective takes a critical stance toward ideologies and is a base for institutional critique activities. www.fxxxx.me
“The symbol / shape of a star is fundamental to my work. On the one hand it symbolizes the
universe, superstars, luxury, glamour, and the divine. On the other hand, its materiality and
shape can signify the opposite – weapon, violence, destruction, injury, and death. There are for instance, throwing stars and morning stars, as well as the literal meaning of “shooting stars”.
By that token, a negative picture of a white star captured by the Hubble telescope becomes
the black hole of a bullet. The only parameter that has been changed is color and contrast, but the image completely changes our perception and affects.”
