site.btaMemorial Plaque to Bulgarian Painter Nikolay Diulgerov Unveiled in Turin

A memorial plaque to Bulgarian painter Nikolay Diulgerov was unveiled on the facade of Turin's Artist Club, journalist Zarina Vasileva told BTA on Monday. Attending were Municipal Council head Maria Grazia Grippo, Artist Club President Luigi Tartaglino, Bulgarian Honorary Consul in Turin Gianni Maria Stornello, Bulgarian Consul General in Milan Ana Paskaleva, former consul general in Milan Tanya Dimitrova (2019-2022), Father Vasil Vasilev of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, representatives of the Bulgarian community, residents and guests of Turin.

The memorial plaque was made by sculptor Petko Yordanov in late 2021, but administrative reasons postponed its unveilment. The project was initiated by Dimitrova while she was Bulgarian consul general in Milan.

In her speech, she said that this is yet another sign that connects Bulgaria and Italy with important names for Bulgarian history and culture. She noted the series of events held in the 2019-2021 period honouring renown Bulgarians, such as Pencho Slaveykov, Mara Belcheva, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Katerin Katerinov, Georgi Atanasov, and Elena Nicolai. "Let us be proud of how Bulgarians leave a very serious mark around the world in every single area," she said.

Bulgarian Consul General in Milan Paskaleva said that diplomacy and culture go hand in hand, and the plaque's unveilment is a cultural diplomatic bridge between the two countries and between Turin Municipality and the Consulate General.

Nikolay Diulgerov is a Bulgarian painter, architect, designer, publicist, and central figure in the Second Italian Futurism movement. He was born in Kyustendil (Southwestern Bulgaria) in 1901. He studied at the Vienna School of Applied Arts as well as in Dresden, where he held an independent exhibition that he later presented in Berlin as well. He moved to Turin in 1926, where he studied at the higher school of architecture of the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts to graduate in architecture. Several months after his arrival in Turin, he connected with the Futurism circles. He created his own idea of Futurism. His most significant works were made in the 1920s and 1930s.

Diulgerov is the only Bulgarian among the big pioneers of the European avant-garde movement of the 1920s. In Turin, he is known as one of the most brilliant "adopted sons" of the city.