Anton Terziev
personal portfolio

I Feel Like I Know Myself But Sometimes My Arms Bend Back

I Feel Like I Know Myself But Sometimes My Arms Bend Back / Имам чувството, че познавам себе си, но понякога ръцете ми се огъват назад - Schmincke oils on canvas. Size: 130 x 100 cm, Anton Terziev, 2019
Title credit: Svetoslav Todorov - journalist, editor and writer Photo: © the artist. Courtesy the artist

(inspired by After the match painting by Anthony Fletcher; foto material used: Flexible Nataly/yogaporn.net)

Installation view: "Small Victories" exhibition, Arosita Gallery, 01/11/15/11/2019 Photo: © the artist

"Антон не изневерява на себе си, като един от малкото художници, отразяващ социални процеси. В изложбата има една специфична арогантност, в която живее обществото в момента, пречупена през гледната точка на автора. Виждаме как тази арогантност днес променя визиите и възгледите ни, както и начина, по който виждаме хората. Изложбата поставя въпроси и за избуяването на фашистки дискриминационни, насилствени идеологии и има сериозна саморефлекция. Той не се поставя като привилегирован наблюдаващ или морален съдник, а запазва тона далеч от морализирането, което ми харесва." Владия Михайлова - куратор, критик, изкуствовед

egoist.bg

Anton Terziev’s “I Feel Like I Know Myself But Sometimes My Arms Bend Back” is an arresting exploration of the inner labyrinth where strength, fragility, and spiritual ambiguity coexist. In this evocative oil painting, Terziev deftly juxtaposes the timeless power of femininity against the fleeting shadows of modern existential dread. The work radiates an enigmatic energy: bold, confident brushstrokes celebrate the resilience and magnetic allure of women power, while subtler, almost wistful gestures whisper of a deeper, en-lighting mystery—a pursuit of spiritual clarity amid the cacophony of today’s anxious, transient world.

With a palette that dances between luminous vibrancy and subdued introspection, Terziev invites viewers to contemplate the paradoxes inherent in self-awareness: the certainty of inner strength and the unpredictable contortions of our vulnerabilities. The painting’s title, both playful and introspective, encapsulates this duality, offering a narrative that is as much about the struggle for personal harmony as it is about the exuberance of overcoming adversity. In its rich layers, “I Feel Like I Know Myself But Sometimes My Arms Bend Back” becomes a visual meditation on the balance between power and surrender—a poignant reminder that even our most resolute moments are interwoven with the tender, often mystifying threads of human imperfection.