The Bulgarian pavilion opened at the Venice Biennale

The 60th edition of Venice Biennale Arte takes place from 20 April until 24 November.

The official opening of the Bulgarian pavilion was held today, April 19.

"The Neighbours" is the installation that presents Bulgaria with curator Vassil Varbanov and authors Krasimira Butseva, Julia Shakhiryan and Lilia Topuzova. The central theme of the Biennale is "Foreigners Everywhere".

Bulgaria’s caretaker Minister of Culture, Naiden Todorov, arrived for the opening, which started at 17:00 local time.

Nadezhda Dzhakova, commissioner of the Bulgarian pavilion at the Venice Biennale: “The Neighbours” is a multimedia installation based on a research from twenty years ago. It is by Liliya Topuzova, who refers to our history and our immediate past, as well as to forced labour camps (during the communist times in Bulgaria), which we know were called ‘labour boarding houses’."

Naiden Todorov, Minister of Culture: "This Bulgarian pavilion reminds us of a fear that is almost forgotten. It reminds us of a pain that existed in the Bulgarian society without being spoken of. For me personally, the very title of the Bulgarian presentation - "The Neighbour" - was an encounter with a reality that most of us have wanted to forget."

Minister Todorov also visited the German pavilion, where Bulgaria is present, albeit in an indirect way. The project there was inspired by Georgi Gospodinov's novel "Time Shelter". From tomorrow the Venice Biennale opens its doors to the general public.