Bulgarian art crosses the borders of memory in the heart of Rome

On February 8, in the building of the Marco Besso Foundation in the heart of Rome, a solo exhibition of Bulgarian artistic dui Marusia and Tania Kalimerov was opened. At the official event, special greetings were given by the Bulgarian ambassador to Italy Todor Stoyanov, the managing advisor of the Marco Besso Foundation Lucio Riccetti, the historian Prof. Claudio Strinati, as well as Gianni Lattanzio - an associate of one of the Italian deputies in the Lower House and Secretary General of the Institute for Cooperation with Foreign Countries, who reviewed the work of the two sisters and highlighted their contribution to textile art and to the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Italy, announced the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The exhibition has two titles - "Bridges of Memory" and "Art that Crosses Borders", because art has always crossed borders and it can be said that it itself has no borders," Tania Kalimerova said in a special interview for Radio Bulgaria.

"Bridges of Memory" is very symbolic and for me very important as a title, because the exhibition is dedicated to my sister Marusia Kalimerova, who died in 2017. She left a very big mark and many wonderful works of art in the field of textiles - tapestries, sculptural installations and drawings. I want our exhibition to bring a lot of joy, as it has been with all our joint appearances, where we have shared our art with the public."

Marusia Kalimerova is a student of the prominent Bulgarian artist Prof. Marin Varbanov. In 2009, Marusia went to live in Rome where her sister Tanya Kalimerova, an opera and chamber music singer who graduated from the Santa Cecilia Music Academy (Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia), has been building her life for years. In the same year, the two started their common visual endeavors and shared their professional lives in Tania's Rome-based studio, creating original works bearing the spirit of Bulgaria and native crafts. Their works have been shown in private and state galleries all over the world - in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Germany, Japan, Italy, England, Kuwait, USA.

The current exhibition in Rome is located in the two contemporary art halls of the Marco Besso Foundation and includes an installation of five tapestries in different techniques, including alto liccio (vertical frame), and several paintings that are in the paper weaving technique, the work of Marusia Kalimerova. In the second hall, 21 miniature textile sculptures by Tania Kalimerova are displayed, some of which have represented Italy and Bulgaria at national and international competitions, and 13 paintings made of a combination of Chinese rice paper, Japanese paper and some silk textiles.

"The works are very original and, in fact, very different from the art that can be seen in Rome and Italy in general. And this is very interesting for the local public", Tania Kalimerova explains to us, and continues: "They see in us representatives of Bulgarian art. Art that they don't know, but they are starting to follow with great interest," says the Bulgarian woman.

She personally accompanies those wishing to see the exhibition every weekday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 16:30 local time in the emblematic building of the Marco Besso Foundation. A very special place, in Tania's words, in the heart of the Eternal City, which since its creation in 1918 has been an intersection of past and present.

"Our exhibitions have always been in places that we have visited on some occasion and have fallen in love with. In this particular case, I attended a conference here some time ago and when I walked through the library hall, which has more than 70,000 books from the private collection of Marco Besso, I fell in love with the place. The foundation representatives told me that they had two contemporary art rooms and I presented our catalogs of exhibitions that we had done in Italy. They really liked our works and agreed that I show them also in their space."

In the first week of its opening, "Bridges of Memory" was seen by more than 130 people. And on February 21, Marusya Kalimerova's birthday, a special program is scheduled in her memory and to celebrate 40 years of artistic activity.

"On February 21, Prof. Claudio Strinati will be personally present, who will present the exhibition. We will read poetry written and dedicated to me and my sister. The foundation organizes two opportunities to visit the entire space from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time , under the direction of architect Carla Rivolta. This is very valuable because it is an incredible opportunity to get to know and explore the entire palace and the rich personal collection of Marco Besso."

The exhibition "Bridges of Memory. Art that Crosses Borders", organized by the Texfilart Association, is taking place under the patronage of the Bulgarian Embassy in Italy and the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Rome and can be viewed until February 23.