site.btaVice President at Venice Biennale: "Art Connects People and We Need to Be Together More than Ever"

Opening the Bulgaria Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale, Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova said on Saturday: "After the devastating pandemic, we were caught into the tragedy of war - something unthinkable in the 21st century. Today we are asking ourselves if we should each retreat into our inner world or reach out to those who need support. Art gives us the answer with its unique power to connect people."

Dozens of visitors wanted to see artist Michail Michailov's There You Are project, curated by Irina Batkova, the President's Press Secretariat said. National Art Gallery Director Yaroslava Bubnova is Commissioner of the Bulgarian Pavilion.

Iotova commented on the project, summing it up in one word: "Together". She said: "We can be together in the same space and still be far apart without empathy. (…) We need to be together more than ever, to empathize with the most vulnerable people, those seeking help and protection from the war in Ukraine."