Plamena Racheva
Sofia University. Professor
Stella Zhivkova
Sofia University. Professor

Ukiyoe-e collections in Bulgaria and the Curious Case of a Little Known Artistic Axis Bulgaria-China-Japan. The 1950s and beyond.

This report begins with an overview of the present condition of Japanese of four ukiyoe-e collections found in Bulgarian state galleries.

The Silistra Gallery collection is of special interest. It was obtained in China by a Bulgarian graphic artist Mircho Yakubov during his years at the Chinese Academy of art where he studied under the guidance of Professor Qi Baishi in the early 50s of the twentieth century. Great Chinese artist influenced Yakubov's artistic style, but another artistic influence cannot go unnoticed either – that of the Japanese artist Hide Kawanishi (川西英 1894-1965). His teachers' influence can be noted in Yakubovs artistic skills in ink painting and in the graphic techniques he adopts. 

Following his study in China, Yakubov returns to Bulgaria only to implement the Chinese interpretation of “socialist realism” in line with the spirit of the age. By organizing multiple workshops, conferences, and exhibitions, Yakubov displays passion for Chinese and Japanese graphic art, spreading the art of ink painting on rice paper, pencil drawings etc. invariably focused on working peoples` lives.

It might be hypothesized that  the thirty ukiyo-e paintings from the Silistra Gallery ukiyo-e collection were received as a gift from Kawanishi to his beloved student. 
 

現代ブルガリア国立芸術館にての浮世絵コレクションについて―20世紀50年代までさかのぼる秘密めいた浮世絵集と日本・中国・ブルガリアをつなぐ不思議な芸術軸を観察するー

現代ブルガリア国立芸術館にての浮世絵コレクションについて―20世紀50年代までさかのぼる秘密めいた浮世絵集と日本・中国・ブルガリアをつなぐ不思議な芸術軸を観察するー

現代4館のブルガリア国立芸術館にて展示される浮世絵集について報告する。その一つとして、シリストラ市にあるシリストラ市立芸術館におけるコレクションの歴史を探る。

過程の第一段階ですが、おそらく20世紀中ごろ社会主義時代によく結ばれる協定により、中華人民共和国・中央美術学院で研究したブルガリア画家のミルチョ・ヤクボブ氏は中国人齊白石(1864–1957),そして当時北京でワークショップを開いた日本人画家の川西英 (1894-1965)の指導を受け、ヨーロッパ的とアジア風の感覚を合併した芸術家になったことを研究結果を発表する。