Българската изложба в Румъния (1945). Културна политика и творческа рефлексия
A Bulgarian Exhibition in Romania (1945) Cultural Policy and Creative Reflection

Summary/Abstract: The main activities and the policy of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (UBA) in late 1944 and the early 1945 were heavily politicised and put to the service of the official party and state line for demonstrating power. The rapid political reorientation of Bulgaria initially restricted the international contacts of UBA. In March 1945, the diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Romania were restored, initiating cultural cooperation between the two countries. As a result of the policy of rapprochement and the development of bilateral relations, UBA was invited in June 1945 to participate in the national exhibition of the Romanian artists. At the Dales Hall in Bucharest, 36 established authors presented their paintings and sculptures, receiving positive and more often negative reviews. Bulgaria’s art life took a sharp turn under the influence of external factors: pluralism, free creative expression and style diversity gave way to the aesthetics of Socialist Realism and the forceful imposition of the official ideology of ‘adherence to party principles’, ‘nationality’ and ‘class nature’ in art. Many of the authors, whose artworks were rejected by the selection committee, mounted an exhibition alternative to the then held 19th edition of the General Art Exhibition in an act of protest.

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