The captivating personal and artistic development of painter Dechko Uzunov took him to many corners of the world. One of these exotic lands was the People’s Republic of China. The current exhibition assembled by the “Dechko Uzunov” Art Gallery puts forth a visual narrative, composed of works created during his journey there. The clarifying text accompanying the exhibition transports us to the years when Dechko Uzunov and graphic artist Veselin Staykov took part in the cultural exchange between Bulgaria and China which was initiated in the 50’s. The two artists spend February-April of 1958 in the host nation, visiting numerous attractions.
Upon his return to Bulgaria, Dechko Uzunov prepares a project to share all that he witnessed in the Asian country. He unveils his exhibition, titled “A Journey through China” on the 15th of October at the gallery on Ruski Boulevard №5 in the capital. The event is covered in the pages of the leading daily newspaper “The Proletariat’s Deed”. The author himself publishes a text on the topic in “Art” magazine. From the articles it becomes clear that the artist is displaying predominantly landscapes, with watercolors and oil paints as the mediums. Among the works are those inspired by urban scenes, such as “Free Shanghai”, “Sailboats in the Cantonese Port”, “A street in Suzhou”, “A street in Canton”, and “Shanghai”; by the nation’s historical lore – “The Great Wall of China”, “Summer Palace in Peking”, “Within old Shanghai”; and by nature – “Shanghai – Huangpu River”, “In front of a Suzhou park” and others.
Dechko Uzunov’s works, fleshed out in the mediums of oil paint, aquarelle, charcoal, pencil and more can be seen first-hand at the art space on Dragan Tzankov Boulevard № 24. Over 20 graphics and landscape works are included, which are part of the collections of the National Gallery, the Art Gallery of Kazanlak and art gallery “Dechko Uzunov”.