ZORAN GEORGIEV

 

Invisible Skyscraper

​

2014, inkjet print, invisible ink drawing, UV flash light, text

80 x 120 cm

Ed: 3+1 AP

​

In 2004 the Brussels European Council approved the conclusion of the accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania. The borders in most European countries were open. People start to travel and work abroad. Meanwhile, the neighbor country Macedonia didn’t have candidate status for EU membership. The country was shot through with corruption and nearly 40 percent unemployment. Some of the Macedonian citizens looked a way out in Bulgarian citizenship, and hoped that in Western Europe they will find a job. However, in order to get citizenship the citizen must have assurance of Bulgarian origin and a permanent address in Bulgaria. A very lucrative business started. For a fee of 100 lev Bulgarian citizens ensured the foreigner’s fictive residence in their home which resulted with apartments with more than 600 persons. A few years ago this practice was denounced by the local authorities. Instead, they introduced an “official” address on the street Lege 6. For several years at this address registers each new Bulgarian citizen who doesn’t lives in Bulgaria. By the end of 2011 there were registered more than 20000 virtual citizens. According to the website of the Municipality of Sredets, their current number is 34659. If all of these people gather in this place, the building should be higher than 4500 meters. With this altitude it would be the tallest building on the planet.

​

​

​