Paravent (Emblemata), 2023, variable sizes, Acrylic on mdf, Wall paint

Untitled (Emblemata), 2023, Acrylic on mdf, Wall paint, 200 x 5 x 110 cm

Emblem, 2023, Acrylic on mdf, 140 x 5 x 120 cm

Emblemata, 2023, Installation, AlteMu, Kiel

The project 'Emblemata' presents a spatial installation consisting of wall paintings and individual objects. An Emblema (plural Emblemata) is a central motif in Roman mosaics used in the 4th-century Basilica in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. They mainly depict figurative compositions surrounded by complex geometric shapes and rosettes. Inspired by these mosaics, Kostova created her own abstract compositions, presenting them in a painterly space filled with objects. The colored walls and the flatness of the painterly sculptures contribute to viewing the entire installation as a three-dimensional painting. One of the compositions is presented as a screen with cutouts, allowing individual layers to overlap depending on the viewers' perspective. As one moves through the space, they discover new visual combinations. Abstract forms and colors are prominent in her installation, evoking various art historical associations. In doing so, she underscores the universality of geometric shapes, present in many cultures.