site.btaPhoto Exhibition Tells Story of Freedom Monument on Mount Shipka

A photo exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the dedication of the Monument of Freedom on Mount Shipka, was officially unveiled at the Art Gallery in Kazanlak. The presentation was attended by Deputy Mayor Srebra Kaseva, the Commander of the 61st Stryama Mechanized Brigade, Brigadier General Margarit Mihaylov, and members of the brigade, representatives of the local administration, the Municipal Council and cultural institutions. 

The exhibition "90 Years in 90 Photos. The Monument of Freedom - A Path in Time" was unveiled by Gallery Director Plamen Petrov and the Director of the Shipka - Buzludzha National Park-Museum, Chavdar Angelov. 

In his speech, Petrov said: "There is only one monument in Bulgaria that manages to bring us together and make us really be together, and that is the Monument of Freedom." He pointed out that this is a monument that has been part of the consciousness of every Bulgarian for 90 years and that has a very rich and interesting history. Unfortunately, the history is still not known to many Bulgarians, and for this reason the annual gathering there in August is very important, said Petrov. "Ninety years is a long time, but it is actually one human life. There are many stories behind the footage, where everyone can recognise personalities and events, and the aim is to remember, because, as cliché as it may sound, we keep forgetting," he added. Petrov stressed that it is extremely important to absorb the experience that the monument gives us because, judging by the political situation at the moment, we are very far behind in the lessons we need to learn. 

Angelov recalled that there is currently a rich program on the occasion of the 147th anniversary of the Shipka Epopee, but this year another anniversary is also marked: 90 years since the dedication of the Freedom Monument. The monument was built in 1930, but four years later it was officially inaugurated by Tsar Boris III. The idea of the exhibition is purely retrospectively through photographs to show, as far as possible, the history of this so emblematic and significant for all Bulgarians monument, Angelov said. 

The exhibition includes materials from the collection of the Shipka-Buzludzha, materials by Ivo Kosev, whose grandfather was the first guardian of the monument, and Marin Hristov, who in recent years has amassed an impressive personal collection of materials related to Bulgarian history and the monument in particular. 

The Monument of Freedom is part of the Bulgarian social fabric - on the one hand, it has been visited by state figures, it is closely linked to the Bulgarian army, it welcomed the Olympic flame in 1980, it hosted events of the Flag of Peace Assembly, said Angelov. It is part of the life of all Bulgarians and is visited all year round, regardless of the conditions. Angelov recalled that this year also marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Shipka - Buzludzha National Park. In that time, the sites of the museum have been visited by 22 million people, which shows the importance of the Monument of Freedom and the place it occupies not only as monumental art, but also as an attitude of the state and society towards it.

On the occasion of the anniversary, the team of the Shipka - Buzludzha National Park-Museum has also published an anniversary newspaper, which will be available during the official celebration of the 147th anniversary of the Shipka Epopee. 

The exhibition "90 Years in 90 Photos. The Monument of Freedom - A Path in Time" can be viewed at the Kazanlak Art Gallery until September 8, after which it will be shown in other cities in the country.