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the »relative freedoms« they had As an artist one could even travel,
one had a regular income and was treated with greater tolerance
by the regime. Because of its privileged status, the art profession
still has a rather bad reputation in many parts of the Bulgarian population.
The stuff that was produced in the Union in those days,
especially painting, is still deemed to be the »state of true art« in
formal circles in Bulgaria today.
As I have personally witnessed, contemporary art is taking place in Sofia!
You can find events scattered around Sofia in various places,
including here at the Sofia City Art Gallery, where I work as a curator.
However, it’s a museum that covers art from the 19th century
to the present day and within that I have built up the contemporary
art sector over the past few years by myself and with enormous
effort. Our collection of contemporary art, the only public collection
of its kind in the country, includes just 80 works, which artists
have donated, and even a small archive, which was inspired, by the
way, by the artist database of basis wien. One positive thing is that,
in spite of everything, we still have quite outstanding artists in Bulgaria
who live up to international standards. I would say that 10 of
them are really at the top.
Contemporary
art survives
thanks to
the initiative
of certain
individuals
in official
institutions
231
So how do the artists in Sofia manage to survive
Almost all of them have other jobs as well. Local NGOs, such
as the Institute of Contemporary Art – Sofia, Interspace – New
Media Art Center, or the Center for Culture and Debate – The Red
House are almost the only organisations that give substantial aid
toward keeping contemporary art alive.
Contemporary art survives thanks to the
initiative and motivation of certain individuals
in official institutions. ——
Sofia
Maria Vassileva, (born 1961 in
Sofia) is an art critic, curator and
art historian. She is chief curator
of the Sofia City Art Gallery and
founding member of the Institute
of Contemporary Art – Sofia.
SPIKE ART GUIDE EAST 01 — 2009
Sofia