Bulgarian Artists Presented in Broadway Exhibition on the Theme of "Art and Diplomacy"
Bulgaria participated with two works in the Broadway exhibition on the theme of "Art and Diplomacy", organized by the Consulate General of Morocco and the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York.
The exhibition featured works of art from over ten countries, presented to a full hall of diplomats and representatives of the art community. The exhibition included the works of two Bulgarian artists – Houben Tcherkelov and Hana Ivanov. The first artist is already established in the USA, while the second is just proving her talent on the international stage. What they had in common was that their works were inspired by Bulgarian Orthodoxy.
Houben Tcherkelov, born in Kardzhali, graduated from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia. Since 2000, he has lived and worked in New York. His impressive canvas depicts the church-monument "St. Alexander Nevsky”, a symbol of Bulgaria, which also appeared on a Bulgarian banknote in the 1940s. In an interview with BTA, given on the occasion of the exhibition, Cherkelov shared that the creation of the image includes multiple layers of foil and acrylic paint, which create a unique effect of light reflections on the facade of the cathedral.
Hana Ivanov, born in New York at the beginning of the new millennium, completed her higher education at the Art Institute of Chicago. She won a Fulbright Bulgaria scholarship for a project related to unconventional painting. For the exhibition, she prepared a canvas-collage with images of Bulgarian icons, the main concept being related to the Orthodox religion and its importance in the personal life and space of a person.
The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York was founded in 1925 and is the largest consular organization in the world. It is governed by an Executive Committee, in which the Bulgarian Consul General holds the position of vice president. Its main goal is to protect the interests of the consular corps in New York while promoting cultural and economic exchange. The association cooperates with the US Department of State, local authorities, as well as cultural and charitable organizations.