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Nothing is done for the representation of Bulgarian artists abroad

02 August 2013 / 19:08:59  GRReporter
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I have many, many favourite artists, for example Roumen Nikolov, who was in Spain for 7 years and there he worked pretty well. We organised an exhibition for him and sold almost everything. Bogomil Arsov is also a very interesting artist. He hasn’t even graduated from the Art Academy, but has works of art in New York. We also have very interesting black-and-white artists and sculptors, such as Spartak Dermendjiev. Who else should I mention? Elka Gyoreva. We have young artists, too. Our popular pop singer Graffa’s sister was here just a few moments ago. She is a very young artist. Peter Nenov, too. He paints pictures of Sofia. And much, much more.

Have you encountered counterfeiters?

There aren’t so many interesting and famous artists here. There are interesting insights and ideas. When someone thinks of something good, even if somebody copied it, he will think of another thing. Everything can be copied. Information is available and when you offer works on the web, there is no way that nobody will copy them. But having an established style that is typical only of you would make it more difficult for somebody to copy you. The more people copy you, the more famous you have become. This is a kind of advertisement for you.

What should be changed in terms of legislation and tax policy so that on the one hand people could open their homes to Bulgarian art and on the other hand creative people and artists could be encouraged?

Nothing is done in this area. Too little money is spent in the field of art. Both Stefan Danailov and Vezhdi Rashidov, who are people of the artistic circles, have been Ministers of Culture, but they looked atfter their own interests and made some temporary stuff. In France, the largest budget paid by the government goes to culture and that is why things happen there. We are talking about theatres, ballets, galleries, etc. There, art is important, because it represents the nation and people. While here, what is honoured? I will not make a list, but will give some examples: people appreciate “chalga”... luxury cars, inferior feelings, etc. I do not know how things can become better, since we are talking about an entire generation that has been brought up in this way and with this kind of thinking - people who inevitably will affect life in Bulgaria at a certain point. I respect showman Slavi Trifonov, but he is the one who launched this whole culture and has been promoting these brainwashing practices for 10 years. There are people who grew up with this music. Imagine what will happen if these people come to power; imagine what kind of things agitate such leaders? This is a vacuum.

"Sofia Breathes" is a very good initiative. At first they did not take money from artists, because they were funded by euro funds, but now they take money even from artists who work on a small scale basis. The event should be directed to the presentation and support of such artists instead of profiting from them. In Austria, small shops that make handmade souvenirs pay no taxes and have no cash registers. Institutions collect money from large businessmen and industrialists. They encourage art life so that a different perspective can exist, because everything else is boring. When you go to an industrial city - it is dark. Nothing can be seen.

When I think back, an artist could take a small bag of statues and go to the seaside in order to sell them. With the money he could spend two months there, selling the things he has created. But there were no fees back then. If you want to go now and sell things they ask you to pay 2,000 BGN for a selling spot, or even 5,000 BGN. This is ridiculous. This is absurd! If you pay this kind of money, you're doomed to failure because you have to pay for accommodation and food, too.

The culture of Bulgarians is very difficult to form. Bulgarians are influenced by what they see around them and everybody says: "We want this, we want this ..." But then somebody else comes on the scene – a man with money, who can afford advertising in many places, and sets a very low standard. People need to be educated. I have a shop on Graf Ignatiev Street, too. And the audience that goes there is very different from the audience that comes here, on Tsar Ivan Shishman Street. The national psychology is very interesting. Generally, I know my colleagues and watch the trend in stores, i.e. what is popular at the moment. It's hard to educate people on aesthetics, beautiful and interesting things. Only people who have been abroad can make a comparison, see and understand.

What do you think should be changed so that we could be able to present our talented artists to the world in a better way?

Nothing is done for the presentation of Bulgarian artists abroad. Foreigners who come to Bulgaria like the things that are made here very much. Because they are fully hand-made which is visible. However, they do not know Bulgarian artists. If we want this to happen, there should be more events aimed at presenting Bulgarian artists. Exhibitions are organised, but they are too small compared to other things that happen abroad.

Tell us an interesting story about a piece of art or its creator?

We’ve had clients asking if we sell light bulbs, paper clips and ... buttons. They do not even ask, but come in directly because they have decided that we sell buttons.

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