Galery

1

     What is the content of your collection?
     I have many street plates that indicate significant events and names from the time of communism, such as "23 September" street, "Partisan" and "Partisan Fight" streets - these things will not be seen any longer. I collect valuable papers issued after 9 September, magazines, biographies and books by Todor Zhivkov, LPs with ideological songs. I have recently bought a 1958 wall calendar with the image of Georgi Dimitrov, issued by the Bulgarian Communist Party. I also collect medals - perhaps no communist medal is missing in my collection, with the exception of "Hero of Bulgaria."
     Which item in your collection do you value most? Why do you find it so valuable?
     This is a carpet with the image of Georgi Dimitrov, which was woven in Sliven. It is in brown colours and when you look at it on the wall, it is as if he will talk to you. Its workmanship is of very high quality.
     How do you fill up your collection at present? Do you still find unfamiliar items?
     It is very difficult. I go to markets, sometimes in the countryside; I find things through friends and acquaintances. These symbolisms of socialism are gone, they disappear every day, only the monuments in the smaller settlements have remained. Now you can see "9 September" or "Partisan Fight" streets nowhere and I look for them and buy them without commenting on the price because it is very expensive in this market.
     Do you know many avid collectors like you in this area?
     Yes, recently I met in Varna a collector who is more enthusiastic than I am, he collects even cars from the time of socialism. I saw him on TV and called him and he said we could trade some things because I have a lot of duplicates. In Sofia, there is a pizzeria, which is entirely arranged in the style of Sots Art.

     Have you been to the Museum of Socialist Art in Sofia? What do you think of it?
     Yes, but for me this is just the time that I lived in. I do not understand why Bulgarians are willing to destroy the monument of the Soviet Army in Sofia, for example, bearing in mind the fact that there are such well maintained monuments in Europe. For me it is nonsense now to deny and destroy everything. What will you, young people, know about the recent past? This is history and it cannot be just obliterated. The younger generation needs to see socialism both from the good and from the bad side. I love history, so I keep and collect these things.
     What do you think needs to change in the government of the Republic of Bulgaria over the next 25 years?
     The first most important thing is to find jobs for this nation. I think Bulgaria is a country with a very rich minority and a very poor majority. Unfortunately, nothing can be done, the spirit is out of the bottle and there is no turning back.