.JPG)
The exhibition “Acqua alta. The History of the National Participation of Bulgaria in the Venice Biennale 1910–2024" presents art works, archives and documentary material from all eleven participations with which Bulgaria appeared in the oldest and most prestigious international art forum in the world since its foundation at the end of 19th century until now.
The exhibition is organized by the City Art Gallery - Plovdiv and the Municipality of Plovdiv. The curators of the project are the art critics Svetlana Kuyumdzhieva and Plamen Petrov. Assistant curator - Ramona Dimova. Artist - Georgi Sharov.
The exhibition includes nearly 60 works from the collections of the National Gallery, Sofia City Art Gallery, art galleries in Plovdiv, Kazanlak, Pleven, Ruse, Sliven, Varna, Djurkovi Gallery, the collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Museum of the National Art Academy , private collections and works provided by the authors. Among them are some of the most iconic works of the classics of Bulgarian art, as well as representative works of the most famous contemporary Bulgarian artists. There are over 70 names of artists who have represented Bulgaria in Venice over the years, among them Andrey Nikolov, Bencho Obreshkov, Boris Denev, Vasil Zahariev, Dechko Uzunov, Ivan Markvichka, Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora, Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, Boris Georgiev, Vaska Emanuilova, Vera Nedkova, Danail Dechev, Nenko Balkanski, Konstantin Shtarkelov, Sirak Skitnik, Stefan Badzhov, Tsanko Lavrenov, Nayden Petkov, Svetlin Rusev, Velichko Minekov, Sekul Krumov, Stoyan Venev and others.
Their works will be exhibited at the Kapana gallery (29 Rayko Daskalov St.) in Plovdiv from December 13, 2024 to February 20, 2025.
Opening – December 13, 2024 (Friday), 6 p.m
The exhibition also includes works from all contemporary pavilions with which Bulgaria has participated in Venice since the 1990s, and among the authors are the most prominent contemporary Bulgarian artists: Nedko Solakov, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Stefan Nikolaev, Ivan Moudov, Pavel Koychev, Huben Tscherkelow, Gredi Assa, Lazar Lyutakov, Rada Boukova, Michail Michailov. Most of their works will be seen for the first time by the Bulgarian public in this exhibition.
Shortly after the closing of this year's 60th edition of the Venice Biennale in Plovdiv, a part of the current Bulgarian pavilion arrives with the project "The Neighbors" by Krasimira Butseva, Julian Shehiryan and Lilia Topuzova. It is an exposition of contrasts that presents different periods of the history of Bulgarian art and the idea of state representativeness that it carries and which is embedded in the very principle of participation in the Venice Biennale.
The retrospective is the result of a long study of Venetian and Bulgarian archives and makes an interesting comparison between the sporadic and irregular appearances of Bulgaria in this prestigious international forum and the events in the political and cultural life of the country. The Venice Biennale continues to be a dream and a struggle for Bulgarian artists, and the long pauses do not stop the pursuit of it. At the same time, every breakthrough and arrival in Venice, regardless of how successful it was, was associated with sharp polemics, conflicts and criticism in the local environment. It is a history of contradictions, twists, scandals and disputes, but above all of talented artists and their art.
The project is implemented wit the support of the National Culture Fund.
*Acqua alta (from the Italian "high water") is a phenomenon typical of Venice and refers to the tides of the Adriatic Sea, which cause partial flooding in the city at different times of the year.