Sketches and drawings related to tapestry works ([1970s–1980s]) - Maryn Varbanov | Archives | M+
Sorry

M+ no longer supports this web browser.

M+ 不再支持此網頁瀏覽器。

M+ 不再支持此网页浏览器。

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

Learn More

Sketches and drawings related to tapestry works 與壁掛作品相關的草圖及繪圖

Maryn Varbanov (1932–1989), a Bulgarian-born artist, resided in Sofia, Paris, and Sydney before ultimately settling in China, where he met his Chinese wife, Song Huai-Kuei (1937–2006), in 1954 while they were both students at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing. Varbanov initially came to China with the intention of pursuing a career as a tapestry artist. Coming from Bulgaria, situated on the Black Sea, he carried the weaving traditions of both the Hellenic and Slavic cultures, as well as the rug-making practices of the Ottoman Turks. His enrolment at CAFA symbolised the cultural exchanges happening at that time between China and other Communist nations. At CAFA, Varbanov delved into merging Bulgaria’s weaving heritage with China’s diverse range of materials, from rough unspun wools to silk threads.

Following his completion of middle school, Varbanov gained admission in 1951 to a six-year programme at the Sculpture Department of the Sofia Academy of Art. In the autumn of 1953, he received approval to study in China and commenced his education at CAFA in Beijing. By 1955, Varbanov transitioned to the Industrial Arts Department to study textile design, dyeing, and weaving. At his graduation exhibition in 1958, he presented his painting exercises, design sketches, and carpets alongside Chinese paintings. Upon returning to Bulgaria after graduation, he held his inaugural exhibition with the Association for International Culture Exchange, showcasing his works from his time in China. The following year, he exhibited tapestries at Bulgaria’s National Industrial Arts Exhibition and garnered first prizes in the exhibitions of 1967 and 1968.

Varbanov showcased his piece "Composition 2001" at the 4th International Textile Art Biennale in Lausanne in 1969, followed by "Aporia" in 1973. He organised his first retrospective in Sofia, featuring 30 artworks created between 1960 and 1974. Upon relocating to Paris, his works were displayed in Angers and Chicago. Until 1979, he participated in the French Contemporary Artistic Tapestry Exhibition in Paris and the National Decorative Art Exhibition in Yambol, Bulgaria. In 1982, Varbanov completed the "Basket" series and the following year, he returned to Beijing to partake in the Modern Artistic Tapestry Exhibition. Three years before his passing in 1989, Varbanov founded the Maryn Varbanov Tapestry Art Research Institute at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, where he served as the director.

The core of the Varbanov collection comprises over 130 sketches for his tapestry projects, some brought to fruition and some remaining unrealised. Additionally, the collection includes several paintings, sketches, and sketchbooks related to his artistic endeavors. Complementing these materials are various sets of photographs documenting his tapestry work, encompassing two sets of portfolio photographs and exhibition documentation.
This series is part of the Maryn Varbanov and Song Huai-Kuei Archive.

Details

Object Number
CA1/1
Archival Level
Series
Related Constituents
Maryn Varbanov (Archive Creator)
Date
[1970s–1980s]
Object Count
251 items
Credit Line
M+, Hong Kong. Gift of the Family of Maryn Varbanov, 2013

Archival Context

Maryn Varbanov and Song Huai-Kuei Archive, CA1 Sketches and drawings related to tapestry works, CA1/1
Loading