site.btaJessica Lange's Photo Exhibition Opens in National Gallery in Sofia

Vice President Iliana Iotova, Culture Minister Nayden Todorov and Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev, ambassadors and artists attended the opening of Jessica Lange's photography exhibition at the National Gallery in Sofia. The event is part of the Masters of Photography project. 

"I won't tell you anything about my photographs. They are extremely personal and I think the best way is to see them without any prior knowledge and telling. I'm very excited to be here. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to spend time here. We were welcomed very hospitably and warmly.  Thank you all for being here. I hope you enjoy the exhibition," Jessica Lange said. 

"We are extremely fortunate to be able to see not only a remarkable woman who we have seen in wonderful films, a winner of the biggest film awards, who I am convinced that generations, not only around the world, but also here in Bulgaria, have been sincerely in love with her, especially men. This incredible skill and talent to see the world through the photographic lens, to capture those moments that you think are the most interesting, that should be remembered, that should be passed on to all of humanity," Vice President Iliana Iotova said.

"I am convinced that through this photographic exhibition we will further understand the soul of a person, of an actor, of an incredible intellectual. And the exhibition itself will reveal to us unknown worlds, worlds not as a geographical concept, but the great world of the human soul and of human relations," she added.

"Today I feel like a person present at the realization of another dream of his - Jessica Lange in Bulgaria. And somehow this gallery is the place that fits her. Because if you know her work the way I know it, you will know that the place of a queen is in the royal palace," Culture Minister Nayden Todorov said.

"You will discover two more things as you look at the exhibition. First, that great talent is the same whether it is in front of the camera or behind it. You will also find that first love remains love for life. Because Ms. Lange, before she started acting, was a photographer. So when we have one love in our heart, no matter which is next, sooner or later, we go back to the first - at least as far as art is concerned," the minister said.

"For most of us, Ms. Lange is known for her award-winning acting, but her passion for photography and her unique perspective behind the camera lens, while lesser known, are equally impressive. This remarkable exhibition features nearly 120 black-and-white photographs revealing Ms. Lange's diverse artistic interests as well as intimate moments captured during her travels around the world," said U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten.

"The U.S. Embassy is proud to be a part of this cultural exchange. It is an exchange that enriches and strengthens the ties between our two countries, built on a shared vision of the world and a common appreciation of art," Merten added.  

"Jessica Lange has indeed had a remarkable career as an actor, but photography is something more special. It involves you being behind the camera. Photography is an activity where you discover yourself, meditate and discover your relationship to the world. Even before she was an actress, Jessica grew up around some of the big names in photography. I believe you will see in this exhibition that these are not just randomly scribbled pictures, but are the works of an accomplished artist photographer who carries photography in her heart," said Howard Greenberg, who is presenting the photographs in the exhibition. He is one of the world's leading photo gallerists, curator and art dealer.