Sasho Violetov - Untitled

I was born in Sofia, where I currently live and work. I hold a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mural painting from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia. I have participated in solo and group exhibitions, festivals, and biennials in Bulgaria and the United Kingdom. In 2022, I had the privilege of being a resident in the residency program at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.


The artwork reinterprets the classical archetype of Gorgona (Medusa) through the lens of contemporary society, drawing a parallel between ancient mythology and today's culture of misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories.
In classical mythology, Medusa possesses a terrifying gaze capable of turning anyone who looks directly at her into stone. In the contemporary world, this mythological power can be reinterpreted as the ability of images, narratives, and manipulated information to paralyse critical thinking and shape people's perception of reality.
The title “Gorgonzola”, written at the bottom of the painting, introduces an element of absurdity, humour, and deliberate misunderstanding. By transforming the name of a mythological monster into the name of a familiar cheese, the artwork plays with the distortion of language and the way meanings can be altered, misinterpreted, and circulated until they become something entirely different.
Ultimately, the painting creates a dialogue between classical archetypes and contemporary forms of collective confusion. It suggests that although the monsters of today may no longer come from mythology, they are still capable of frightening, manipulating, and paralysing society.