An Attempt at “Internationalization” and Migration at the Art Uni

When I was young, going out into the wide world, across borders, was seen as an act of resistance against the political system in which I lived. I grew up in real-socialist Bulgaria. I learned to draw and paint in courses there and wanted to study art. Neither in Bulgaria nor in Austria did my family know any artists who could have helped me. In the early 1990s, I packed my bags. I ended up in Austria “by chance” because there’s an agreement between the countries that makes it possible to study here.

I had prepared a portfolio and applied to both the Academy and the Angewandte. Fortunately, I was accepted at the Academy. I met a lot of friendly and open people here, but there was little talk about the struggles of migrants to survive – almost nothing about everyday racism when looking for housing, jobs, authorities, etc.

I created art about residence permits, border and migration policies and getting my Austrian citizenship. A few students got together to make some noise about these topics and put it into art. Topics like the lack of interest in the realities of migration and the “deutsche-Sprache-schwerere-Sprache, integriere-mich-am-Arsch” projects.

After getting my degree, I applied for a teaching position (artistic assistant) here. I think I got the job because a female professor supported me and wanted to have my artistic and political work at the Kunstuni. I still teach about these topics today.