Curator: Plamena Dimitrova-Racheva
Opening: Friday, 7 November, 6:00 p.m.
The exhibition showcases the portrait art of Bistra Vinarova–Radeva – one of the most refined and distinguished figures in Bulgarian modern art. The artist stands out as a bearer of subtle psychological insight and emotional depth that transcend the surface of the image.
In her early work, Bistra Vinarova assimilates the expressive power of form, influenced by German Expressionism and Cubism, which she mastered during her studies in Dresden and Munich. In her pieces from this period, the human figure is constructed through geometric volumes, vivid color contrasts, and psychological tension. Over time, her art turns toward the intimate. In compositions from the 1940s to the 1970s – especially in the portraits of Simeon Radev – warm, earthy tones, subdued light and inner spiritual harmony prevail. Thus, Vinarova moves from avant-garde expression to inner contemplation, from the image as a reflection of modern times to the image as a spiritual portrait.
Alongside the paintings and graphic works, the exhibition presents documents, letters, and photographs from the Archives State Agency, preserved in the Central State Archive – Fund No. 77K “Family Fund of Simeon and Bistra Radevi (1879–2010).” Among them are photographs of the artist’s family – her parents, General Varban and Elisaveta (Eliza) Vinarovi – as well as her brothers. Also on display are photographs of the artist from her childhood, youth, and the period when she was married to the writer, historian, and diplomat Simeon Radev.
The photographs trace her artistic presence – from the studios of photographer Ivan Karastoyanov, through portraits taken by her teachers Prof. Ferdinand Dorsch and Prof. Hans Hofmann, to snapshots from her husband’s diplomatic missions in Washington and Paris. Among the documents stand out the marriage certificate of Bistra and Simeon Radev (Constantinople, 1924) and two letters from Rainer Maria Rilke and Nikos Kazantzakis, attesting to her international recognition and her spiritual kinship with prominent intellectuals of the twentieth century.
“Beyond the Portrait” reveals Bistra Vinarova’s world through the faces that surrounded her – the people she painted and those who inspired her artistic vision. The exhibition shows how life becomes art – how the image beyond the portrait tells the story of an extraordinary woman who left an enduring mark on Bulgarian culture.
Тhe project “Between Art and Memory of Bistra Vinarova and Simeon Radev” is carried out on the initiative of Mr. Emil Stoyanov, under contract BG-RRP-11.022-0041-C01 with the National Culture Fund, with the support of the National Gallery and the State Archives Agency.
Media partner: BTA / Bulgarian News Agency
