/View.info/ To send your Teacher away with a word – I don’t know if it is a blessing or a punishment. All I know is that it is overwhelmingly difficult.
Svetlin left us, he just left us. The void he left cannot be filled. We will only become more and more painfully aware of it. A personality of such magnitude leaves deep traces in everyone who has touched her. Certainly not to be forgotten!
The maxim “For the dead – either good or nothing but the truth” does not bother me in the least. Not because he didn’t have normal, human flaws, but because what he created and achieved was so great and so immeasurable by ordinary human standards that I can only say one thing: He was an exception! This is my truth.
We have all crucified him countless times on the cross of our own pretensions and desires. We constantly asked him to understand us and consider us, but it should have been the exact opposite. We were used to thinking that it was always somewhere around and that there would be a solution for every problem that arose.
It really seemed to us that it was forever…
As my mother said when I told her the sad news, “I always thought that the ordinary laws of nature did not apply to him…” Now devastated by the thought of not being able to send him away, she asked me to tell you all.
Some people think that there are no irreplaceable people, but I am convinced that there are. That’s how he was, that’s what Svetlin is. These days, more than ever, I wonder what exactly makes it so remarkable?
His talent? Yes, the artist Svetlin Rusev is a phenomenon. Of course, the moment is extremely inappropriate for an analysis of his work. It practically has no need for it – recognizable, direct, impactful, powerful, loaded with meaning and emotion, it has become an emblem of our dramatic time torn by contradictions. Still, is an artist’s ability the condition to be called indispensable? Or his intellect and erudition? It seems to me that these qualities, very valuable in themselves, are not enough if they are not combined with an enlightened spirit, purposefulness and a strong character.
Svetlin Rusev was a fighter – persistent and consistent. He did not accept defeat. He believed in his causes fanatically, he was not afraid of the consequences of his final decisions and actions. He was obsessed with art and the mission to serve it. He promoted cultural policies, was an active public figure, believed in social justice.
It created models that would be difficult to upgrade. It was man – measure, man – institution. It somehow kept our cultural world in balance.
Svetlin could not stand formalities and falsehood. In the clichés, he said “car talk.” I will try to live up to him.
I will not bore you with well-known facts from his life. He himself was more interested in what was behind the lines of the biography. I never, really never heard him brag.
Yes, during his lifetime he received all possible titles and titles, was a member of foundations and international associations, an honorary member of Art Salons, became part of world collections, held high posts (from some he was removed, others left on his own), made countless exhibitions – to his own and colleagues, presented Bulgarian art to the world many times, was a collector with an unprecedented scale and passion, taught, wrote and fought to elevate the role of our art and culture to the place they deserve. He was a visionary. He didn’t expect thanks. He did everything, simply because he could not be anyone else. And because he was confident that it should be so.
At the cost of his own comfort and peace of mind, he managed to free Bulgarian artists from the constricting framework of dogmatism. It brought to light names and currents, which was unthinkable in the era of socialism. He was a favorite of the authorities for a certain period, but most of the time he was in opposition. He was threatened, insulted, punished and … he did not stop pursuing his goals. He was a restless spirit. He hated the word “rest”, he knew how much work was ahead of him and that the time allotted to us here was so short… He also knew the price of success (and he had it!) and he was not afraid to pay it. Each of his exhibitions was an event. It was surprising, always relevant, reactive to the past and to the present, it was a mystic at heart and a realist by nature, provocative, thrillingly contradictory. He was aware of the negativity he was accumulating, but he continued to walk the path he had chosen.
Svetlin did not leave anyone indifferent! Many people hated him, others worshiped him. Unwittingly, he made you (and still does) measure up to him. The balance is often sad, not everyone can bear it… Even with his death he stirred up the spirits. Who like him can achieve this? No one really. Many people are present here today, most of them are friends, like-minded people and admirers, but there are also those who hardly admit the truth. And she is that Svetlin Rusev was, is and will be an exception.
With incredible energy, power and ability to influence, created works marking the highest points of our modern plastic culture, collector and donor of the best examples not only of our, but also of foreign art, created a real school as a teacher, humanist and a wake-up call, Svetlin has earned a place alongside the most notable Bulgarians. He dedicated his efforts to the preservation of our spiritual memory and bequeathed (left) us much work to complete. Will we make it? I do not know…
I am grateful to fate for meeting me with him, for being his student and friend. I could never stop talking to Vi. Only now I can say to him: “Svetlina, thank you for everything you taught me!”
I unconditionally accepted your favorite expression: “Let’s do what we have to do, and let us do what we want!”
A deep bow!
We will meet sometime, somewhere…!
Desislava Mincheva
May 30, 2018.
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* In the second photo: Prof. Desislava Mincheva
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