“The “Commercial House” opposite the Court House was established in 1926 for the Bar Association and has been used as such ever since. Later, a variety of shops, merchants, and businesses appeared and today reflect the sometimes disparate social, economic, and cultural realities of a place. The truth is that private bailiffs now share space there with cult record and yarn shops as well as old bars and cafes.

In this bezistan, artist Slavena Petkova has been talking to the owners for months, gradually discovering that the place suffers not only from financial shortcomings, but also from a lack of communication and a sense of community among the bezistan users. All of this is reflected in the only google like that “Commercial Home” has ever received. With the project “First Love, Then Everything Else” Slavena challenges future visitors to give a “like” on google and write a short review to the Commercial House. Each review will activate excerpts of conversations she has had with the inhabitants of the place. The audience can only watch the installation work as long as the location gets likes. Through this algorithm, the artist hopes to “wordlessly” propel the web and boost the self-esteem of this downtown location that is actually as hidden as it is charming.