One Sky – United Under One Horizon
Interactive art installation
Proposal by Valentin Bakardjiev
As Amsterdam celebrates 750 years of openness, tolerance, and community, I propose One Sky –an immersive installation symbolizing unity across cultures.
One Sky will be an expansive, flexible installation made of fine, handmade Washi paper strips, dyed with indigo I have grown locally in Amsterdam since 2020. The structure will form a circular, almost architectural space of approximately three meters in diameter, with countless blue paper strips hanging from above. Visitors will be able to walk among the flowing strips, entering a physical and emotional experience of our "united sky" – a symbol of a shared future without borders.
Through natural materials and traditional techniques, my work explores the deep interconnection between humanity and the environment. Each piece invites reflection on sustainability, resilience, and the unseen threads that bind cultures and ecosystems together.
The installation's adaptable design allows it to fit various spaces: it can be extended longer or wider, or made higher or lower, responding to each unique location’s architecture. Whether in a museum hall, a theatre stage, or a public space, One Sky can breathe into different environments, just like air adapts to every room.
Amsterdam proudly hosts people from more than 280 nationalities. Inspired by this, I would like to invite residents of diverse backgrounds to participate in workshops, helping to create and assemble the installation together. Through collective effort, we will weave a new, tangible sky created by many hands, carrying many stories.
One Sky is more than an artwork; it is a collective wish for unity, sustainability, and hope. Using traditional techniques and natural materials (like Japanese Washi paper and hand-made indigo), the project embodies the values of liberty, equality, solidarity, and appreciation for nature values that reflect both the spirit of Amsterdam and the global future we want to build together.
Additionally, a series of 2D artworks made from upcycled indigo-dyed papers will accompany the installation, representing skylines from different continents, reinforcing our mutual connection.
As an artist who speaks five languages and proudly holds Dutch, Bulgarian, and Dominican citizenships, I have personally experienced the beauty of diverse identities coming together. Through One Sky, I hope to celebrate the invisible but ever-present link between us all: the one sky above.
Valentin Bakardjiev www.artbakard.com
