Talking Streams

The watercourses that pass through Sofia are not only natural elements, but also living archives of a kind. They carry traces of history, urban development, biodiversity and social practices, while also generating personal, imaginary and future narratives. Urban water is at once a site of life and imagination and a resource with important ecological and geopolitical dimensions.

As part of the festival, the sound walk Talking Streams seeks to reveal the complex network of relationships connected to the river. The route follows the course of the Perlovska River – from the foothills of Vitosha in Dragalevtsi Neighbourhood, through Krustova Vada Neighbourhood, to South Park. The walk combines listening and movement, presenting different artistic perspectives through sound essays and compositions:

Martin Atanasov examines the former public toilets along the riverbanks as spaces of intimacy and discreet traces of urban history. Marta Djurina explores the spring waters of Vitosha through their physical and sonic qualities, as well as through family stories and habits.
Katerina Gabriel Konarovska creates a dreamlike narrative about urban rivers and their presence in everyday life and the home. Maria Nalbantova continues her research into the unrealized project for a navigable canal between Sofia and the Black Sea, tracing the history of the Perlovska River and its tributaries. Veronika Tabakova accompanies the route with an electroacoustic soundscape. Tobias Preisig brings all the individual works together into a cohesive sound experience.

Meeting point:
Evian, Dragalevtsi Neighbourhood, 27 Chemshir Street, Sofia

We will start on time—please don’t be late!

Duration: approximately 1 hour of walking, approximately 2 hours total event duration

Required: a smartphone and headphones (if possible; will be provided if needed)

Recommended: comfortable clothing and shoes, a hat, water and sunscreen

Registration (recommended): hello@bluecubefoundation.org