BNR presents exhibition by Turkish cartoonists of Bulgarian origin

An exhibition featuring works by 20 Turkish cartoonists of Bulgarian origin has opened at the Bulgarian National Radio to mark the 70th anniversary of the “Humour and Satire” team of BNR’s Hristo Botev programme. The exhibition includes artists born in Bulgaria as well as descendants of Bulgarian emigrants who now live and work in Turkey.

The project was initiated by Halit Kurtulmuş, who was born in Aytos, graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Sliven and is currently based in Bursa.

Opening the exhibition, Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev described the mass exodus of Bulgarian Turks in 1989 as “one of the most shameful episodes in Bulgaria’s modern history”.

“Extensive academic research has examined the consequences: the rupture of the social fabric, the foreign policy isolation, the economic collapse, but we have yet to see research focused on the loss of creative potential and artistic talent. Today’s exhibition clearly shows how many gifted artists left our country,” Mitev said.

The exhibition will be open to visitors until 12 June.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova