Sofia Paper Art Fest & IAPMA Congress

Sofia Paper Art Fest exhibition takes place 12 April - 16 June 2018, an international festival of paper art, on the theme Messages in Paper. In conjunction with the exhibition, the international congress of IAPMA (International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists) takes place in Sofia from 16-20 May.

The events are organised by Amateras Foundation and have a focus on the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, amid cultural dialogue and partnership with global networks and associations. The presentation of Bulgaria’s cultural heritage, combined with contemporary art in different parts of the planet, will show Bulgaria’s new face to the world.

Paper art is a modern art bred by traditions and crafts related to paper and, as the newest area in contemporary art, it blends traditions and innovations, experiments and high achievements. It challenges world authors to create a new language of expression and new technologies that enrich contemporary art.

PAPER: CONSCIENCE & CONSCIOUSNESS
IAPMA Congress: 16 May - 20 May 2018

Pulling from the title of Bulgarian-born writer Elias Cannetti's The Conscience of Words, a collection of essays that followed Crowds and Power, IAPMA looks at the conscience and consciousness of paper in the 21st century, its place in a contemporary, globally connected society and ever-increasing technological world. What are the ethical and moral implications of paper – as a record or document, as a social contract, as an art form, as a craft? What is the power of paper, and what is its weakness? How is the role of paper changing as we progress towards complete digital communication? What is paper's role as we strive for a more conscious, equal, and aware global society? How can we, as citizens of the world, use paper to affect positive change, social change, environmental change, and technological advances?