The purpose of the “Action: Modern Art” is to supply the newly established collection “Modern Art and Photography” and to promote the latest trends in Bulgarian art. The Sofia Art Gallery staff are convinced that the mission of their institution is to appraise, select and store the best examples from the past and the present day of art. In our circumstances this function is even more important given the lack of a Museum of Contemporary Art. Several generations of artists have been employing the new means of expression for some twenty years now, however, their works have not been and are not included in museum collections. This disturbing fact inspired our vigorous effort to conserve this art. Unfortunately, because of shortage of money we have to rely on donations from artists. The exceptionally valuable donation “Vanitas” of Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova was displayed within the framework of this project in October 2005.

The Sofia Art Gallery is now happy to report about its new gift acquisition from the artist Boryana Rossa. The donation includes 18 digital photographs and four videos. The exhibition “Boryana Rossa in Public Collections” will display part of the donation.

The series “The, Good, the Bad, the Ugly”, 2001 (5 digital color photographs) is Boryana Rossa’s comment on the status of the woman in the post socialist society where she lives outside the extremity of radical feminism; in her vision “the blood of the revolution gushes into the red color of the lipstick”. “Cloning” (1997) is an emblematic work, which illustrates the risks of cloning in a perfect way. “I’ve Lost…” (2002) is a series of four photographs that are a remake of the little known erotic photography of the 1950s. The reinterpretation and modernization of the profane image, which the artist’s effort has transformed into an apotheosis of female slavery – into a violent feminist proclamation, provokes, if not laughter, at least a bitter smile. In “Are You Happy? Yes, I’m Happy!” (two photographs) Boryana Dragoeva-Rossa exults over being a woman.

Boryana Rossa is one of the most interesting and radically minded young artists from the past decade. Her vocation fields are the video, photography and performance. Her works are displayed at dozens of exhibitions in and outside Bulgaria; she participates in international seminars and workshops as one of the distinguished new figures in modern Bulgarian art.