Zhelislav Nikolaev - "The only one"

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY & STATEMENT
Zhelislav Nikolaev – Contemporary Photographer

I am a professional photographer with 15 years of dedicated practice in my craft. Since childhood, photography has been my passion. Based in Varna, Bulgaria, I founded a boutique photography agency specializing in intimate family portraiture, event photography, and conceptual contemporary work.

My approach to photography transcends technical documentation; I explore philosophical dimensions of perception, reality, and human connection. My work emphasizes the dialogue between artist and subject, between what is seen and what is meant to be understood.

"The Only One" marks a pivotal moment in my artistic journey – the conception of my first-ever printed and offered work for public acquisition. This singular image encapsulates years of visual thinking distilled into one deliberate frame.

THE WORK: "THE ONLY ONE"

Artist: Zhelislav Nikolaev
Title: The Only One
Date Created: 2025 (Printed: January, 2026)
Medium: Fine Art Photography Print
Dimensions: 30 × 40 cm (approximately 11.8 × 15.7 inches)
Edition: Limited edition of 10 numbered prints
Edition Number: [1/10] This is the First Print in the Series
Condition: Excellent – Newly printed, pristine condition
Signed & Authenticated: Hand-signed on verso with title, date, edition number, and artist signature
Certificate of Authenticity: Included with original document

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK & SYMBOLISM
Visual Composition:
The work presents a striking red numerical "1" – a bold, geometric assertion against neutral tones. The square red form is not merely decorative; it serves as the conceptual and visual anchor for the piece's philosophical inquiry.

The Red: Symbol of Truth & Choice
The intense red draws its symbolic weight from popular culture and philosophical tradition – particularly the iconic "red pill" metaphor from "The Matrix" – representing a choice to perceive reality as it truly is, unfiltered by comfortable illusion. In Nikolaev's vision, red becomes the color of clarity, awakening, and uncompromising truth-telling.

The Verso Element: The Pest Control Notice
On the reverse of the print, a pest control advertisement has been deliberately integrated into the work. This juxtaposition is not accidental but central to the piece's meaning.

Complete Narrative:
The artist's statement reads as follows:

"To eliminate the pests of the world – to make it our home of illusion. The truth is uncomfortable. The truth is the exterminator of delusions that comfort us. I seek to reveal truth through this frame – to show the world that clarity, though harsh, is the foundation upon which genuine understanding and authentic living can be built."

The number "1" represents singularity, uniqueness, and beginning – the first step in a journey toward truth-telling.


SIGNIFICANCE & COLLECTOR'S NOTE
Historic Milestone:
This represents the first photograph ever printed and offered for public acquisition by Zhelislav Nikolaev. For collectors of contemporary conceptual photography, this is an entry point to a now-established artist's oeuvre.

Limited Availability:
Only 10 prints exist in this edition.


-> Direct from the artist

Shipping: The work will be carefully packaged in protective materials to ensure safe transit. Shipping to international locations available.