Early paintings by Bulgarian artist Lika Yanko (1928-2001) will be displayed publicly at The Palace, the primary building of the National Gallery in Sofia. The exhibition, titled “Journey to the Image,” is scheduled to open on April 29 at 6 p.m. and run through September 5, according to organizers.
The National Gallery houses a significant and representative collection of Yanko’s work, which was acquired through a generous donation from the artist. The exhibition’s title reflects two central themes within the displayed art. The first focuses on the 1960s, the decade during which these pieces were created.
During this period, Yanko was early in her career and explored her artistic understanding through representations of the material world. The second theme traces the artist’s personal development, which involved collaboration with a small, informal group of female artists. This group spontaneously organized annual creative trips to locations such as the Rhodope Mountains and the environs of Melnik and Karlanovo.
While the works from these members were inspired by shared sources and exhibit common moods, the gallery notes there is no evidence of a unified aesthetic platform. “Journey to the Image” illuminates significant names, events, and artistic developments that have not been extensively analyzed. These works occupy peripheral or extreme zones, areas often characterized by absence or silence.
The gallery suggests that without examining these areas, the complete picture of Bulgarian art history remains incomplete. The exhibition is curated by Nikolay Ushtavaliiski and Iva Veleva, with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) serving as the official media partner.
Topics: #yanko #national #gallery
It’s great that the National Gallery is featuring the work of Lika Yanko.
Will the exhibition feature works from other Bulgarian artists besides Lika Yanko?