Inspired by stories, myths and conspiracy theories from the 14th century to the present day, the works are painted on military tents using ancient batik and wax-painting techniques, with pigments mixed through chemical processes. In an interview with the Bulgarians in Austria blog, Melange Bulgaren, Ushev recently admitted:

'I did something like this for the first time in 2023 for my exhibition at the Château d'Annecy in France. The exhibition sold out and is now owned by the museum. That's how the idea started. I've been working this way for two years now.”

The large canvases resemble battlefields more than textile panels and paintings. Located in the halls of Haus Wittgenstein, which was converted into a hospital for wounded Russian soldiers after World War II, some of the most famous and bizarre theories and fantasies take on new meaning, according to a report by BTA quoting the Bulgarian cultural office in Austria. Theodor Ushev's visual 'conspiracies' were created specifically for this space – a piece of Bulgaria outside Bulgaria – and will be accessible to visitors until 26 June 2025.

The exhibition marks a fresh burst of creativity following Theodore Ushev’s highly successful solo retrospectives: The Matter of Memory, shown last year at La Cinémathèque in Quebec, which was originally created and presented in collaboration with the Museum of Château d'Annecy; and The Idea, exhibited at the Guttuso Museum in Bagheria, Sicily, in 2024.

Earlier this week, Ushev announced on his Facebook profile that his new film, Life with an Idiot, will open the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 8 June. The film is part of the official competition at the world’s largest animation festival, which runs through 14 June. This will be the world premiere of Life with an Idiot. 

Ushev ends his post with a pointed note: ‘Warning: there is a heavy presence of idiots in the film.’