© Albin Biblom/Bildupphovsrätt 2025
Marin och Mariana, Bourgas. Ur serien Mechkar
by Albin Biblom
Artist
Albin Biblom
(Sverige, född 1975)
Alternate Title
- Marin and Mariana, Bourgas. From the series Mechkar
Date2003
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsBildmått: 28,7 × 38,4 cm
Pappersmått: 30,4 × 40,4 cm
ClassificationPhotography
Credit LinePurchase 2021 (Swedish Acquisitions 2021)
Countries
Object NumberMOM/2021/312
CollectionsSvenska förvärv 2021
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkOver a period of several years, the photographer and filmmaker Albin Biblom documented the last dancing bears in Bulgaria and their owners. The occupation of bear handler has a long history in Roma families and is passed down from father to son for generations. In 2000, the European animal rights organisation Vier Pfoten and Fondation Brigitte Bardot engaged in the battle to prohibit performances with live bears. In a series of black-and-white photos from streets, beaches and parking lots, where the bears used to perform or rest, Biblom highlights different sides of the story, in an attempt to understand this special and close relationship between man and beast. The project also gave rise to an image collage and a film about one of the last “mechkari”, Stefan Dimov Ivanov, and his bear Stefka.
Signatures, inscriptions and marks Signerat i blyerts i mitten på baksidan av konstverket: "Albin Biblom", Påskrifter, i blyerts, i mitten på baksidan av konstverket: "Marin och Mariana, Bourgas, 2003" / "3/25" "Albin Biblom"
Signatures, inscriptions and marks Signerat i blyerts i mitten på baksidan av konstverket: "Albin Biblom", Påskrifter, i blyerts, i mitten på baksidan av konstverket: "Marin och Mariana, Bourgas, 2003" / "3/25" "Albin Biblom"