Ivan Blazhev was born in 1974 in Skopje, Macedonia. With a degree in filmmaking from Brooklyn College (NYC, USA) from 1996 - 2000 worked in the film industry directing short films, documentaries, music videos and commercials. Since 2001, he left the film scene and has been immersed in photographic work, initiating numerous projects. Works as a freelancer and has contributed to Macedonian newspapers and magazines. He has exhibited his work at national and international museums and gallery venues. His project Macedonia Dreaming was featured in the "Beyond Walls - Eastern Europe After 1989" program at the 2008 Noorderlicht Photo Festival. Books published by Macedonian Center of Photography: Sparks - Initiatives for Safe School (2004), by Templum: Macedonia Dreaming (2007) and Skopje With Eyes Wide Open (2008), and by Moser Verlag: East (2008, group presentation). Blazhev has thought photography classes at various schools and institutions and currently teaches at the Macedonian Center of Photography and the European University - Republic of Macedonia. His work is distributed by Anzenberger Agency.
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Macedonia: Tango Banda
By Ivan Blazhev
Posted in all, features, europe, slides on 9 May 2010
Stats: 1,019 views and 5 Comments

 
Tracing its beginings to the 1880’s in the Argentine underbelly, the houses of ill repute, Tango has had it’s periods of ups and downs. After the initial spread through all levels of the Argentine society, Tango found its way first to Paris, and then to other parts of the world. But after the coup [...]

Macedonia: Backstage Fashion
By Ivan Blazhev
Posted in all, features, europe, slides on 21 August 2009
Stats: 1,096 views and 1 Comment

 

Skopje Fashion Week, Between the Light and the Shadows, 2002 - 2007.
The inspiration of this documentary “fashion” piece is not in the latest fashion styles, but rather in the visual energy of the fashion event backstage, in the sensation to be among the audience and the idea to portray the participants in their [...]

Macedonia: April Fool’s Day
By Ivan Blazhev
Posted in all, features, europe, slides on 22 April 2009
Stats: 652 views and No Comments

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” – Oscar Wilde
April 1st, Skopje, Macedonia…
As soon as the night covers the city they start coming out…Action heroes, Osamas, Fallen angels, Venice gondoliers (without the gondolas), Japanese geishas, Transgendered Snow Whites and dwarfs, [...]

Macedonia: Life In A Student Dormitory
By Ivan Blazhev
Posted in all, features, europe on 30 January 2009
Stats: 6,819 views and 6 Comments

HomeBound: Life in a student dormitory.
The student residence hall “Stiv Naumov” is part of the State Student Housing Center – Skopje, a state institution which takes care of housing and meal plans for students coming from other parts of the country (Macedonia) to attend university in the capital Skopje. “Stiv Naumov” is by [...]

Macedonia Dreaming
By Ivan Blazhev
Posted in all, features, europe on 21 January 2009
Stats: 444 views and No Comments

Since the declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, Macedonia has entered a transitional state which had all the stereotypical characteristics of countries moving from socialist and communist regimes towards free market economy and democracy, such as doubtful privatizations, corruption, scandals, political fiascos, etc. Although the country successfully avoided the first wave of ethnic conflicts [...]