Opening of the Exhibition “Mythological Transformations” at Mission Gallery
On September 25, 2025, the exhibition “Mythological Transformations” was officially opened at the Mission Gallery of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event, organized by the Sofia Paper Art Fest (SPAF) and the AMATERAS Foundation, marked the second highlight of the Bulgarian-Turkish cultural exchange launched in 2025 and represented another step toward building a long-term partnership between Bulgaria and Turkey in the field of contemporary art.
The exhibition was inaugurated by H.E. Mehmet Sait Uyanık, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Bulgaria, in the presence of artists who traveled from Izmir especially for the occasion, as well as representatives of Turkish business in Bulgaria, partner organizations, cultural figures, media, and admirers of contemporary art.
In his address, Ambassador Uyanık emphasized the importance of art as a bridge between nations:
“We believe that culture and art speak a universal language that builds bridges between cultures. We will continue to focus on joint cultural activities that help Turkish and Bulgarian societies to understand each other better.”
Greetings were also delivered by Nia Tabakova, representative of the State Cultural Institute, Daniela Todorova, curator of the exhibition, who highlighted the significance of the shared cultural heritage between the two countries, and Todor Todorov, Director of the AMATERAS Foundation. Artist Şükran Tümer also welcomed the audience, introducing the participating artists and the concept behind the exhibition.
Ms. Todorova expressed special thanks to the Ministry of Culture, Sofia Municipality, AMATERAS Foundation, and the State Cultural Institute for their support and cooperation, which made the realization of the project possible.
The exhibition presents the works of five contemporary artists from Izmir — Şükran Tümer, Neslihan Şakir, Prof. Dr. Fetiye Erbay, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mutlu Erbay, and Biney Durmuş — some of whom are lecturers at Ege University. The project carries a strong message of cultural dialogue, mutual respect, and the exchange of creative experience between Bulgaria and Turkey.
Guests had the opportunity to enjoy an inspiring encounter with contemporary paper art, which will remain open to the public until October 10, 2025.