NATIONAL GALLERY FOR FOREIGN ART
Exhibition
THE OTHER MUSEUM
presented by
THE UNION OF COLLECTORS IN BULGARIA
in co-operation with
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Opening: June 7th 2010, Thursday, 6.00 p.m.
Already prehistoric man has collected unusual objects of nature because for him they were ‘marked’ by a superior power. Later on entire treasures were amassed to betoken higher social or ideological status. With art becoming a special and distinctive spiritual activity, Hellenistic and Roman aristocrats and rulers were possessed by the desire to own personally works by renowned masters. Thus emerged an important feature in the cultural life of men: the collecting of especially valuable or typical artefacts seen as representing not only a particular aspect of culture but also the collector’s personality.
)
)
)
)
Collecting is a passion, which could lead to positive as well as negative consequences for the cultural heritage of a nation. However, if we consider this incredibly extended in scale activity as an endeavour to rescue artefacts of major importance for the cultural history of a nation, then the positive aspects certainly prevail. Were it not for private collecting, many works precious for culture and science would have long since left our country to enrich the collections and museums of richer nations or would have sunk into oblivion, or even fallen prey to destruction.
It is for the first time that a group exhibition of private collectors is being held in Bulgaria. Its aim is to show what riches are preserved outside of public, state and municipal, museums and what special care is taken by the owners for their conservation and preservation and for making them available for study and research. In contrast to widespread opinion, collectors do not “hide” their collections, on the contrary, they are willing to make them publicly accessible, to share with specialists and non-specialists alike items important for their scientific and museum value, to expand the relevant field of knowledge and thus demonstrate evident that despite the fact of private ownership these artefacts are an irrevocable part of the national heritage. In many cases the exhibits are not inferior in quality to their counterparts preserved in public institutions.
Visitors will have the chance to learn something about the principles and standards according to which private collections are formed, the constant cares and occupation of the collectors with regard to the artefacts they are collecting. We hope that the opening of private collections to art lovers as well as taking a closer look at the nature and characteristics of collecting will help free public opinion and the wider audience from the prejudices concerning private collectors that have accumulated over the years. Besides, many unknown artworks will be made accessible to students of the national cultural heritage and will certainly enrich them with new knowledge and ideas.
It goes without saying that only a few collectors can show a small selected fraction of their collections at this first exhibition. It comprises artefacts from the domain of archaeology, weaponry, faleristics, philately and ethnography, as well as works of European and Bulgarian art.
)
)
)
)
)
Owing to the great interest in the exhibition, it will be open until June 28th 2010.
