EXHIBITION “BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PHOTO ARCHIVE OF HACHIK LEBIKYAN

Over 50 black and white photographs in the Art Gallery transport visitors to Ruse from the 1960s to the 1980s. The author of the photographs is Khachik Lebikyan – a man with an eye for detail and a strong connection to the city. In the exhibition, he collects authentic analog footage that tells the story of life, people and changes in Ruse over the years.

Each photograph is an invitation to travel back in time – to familiar faces and streets, to the atmosphere of the old town and those small moments that remain in the memory. The exhibition shows how Ruse has changed – from people’s behavior to the cityscape, always through the author’s personal perspective.

Part of the presentation are also short films by Lebikyan, shot in a style reminiscent of the French New Wave. The footage follows the construction of the TV Tower, the underpass in front of the railway station, the Glass Booth, as well as unique images such as the bear keeper in the city center. Particularly impressive are the three photos from the studio of the sculptor Nikola Terziev – Zelyazoto, which captured the creative process in its full swing.

Hachik Lebikyan is not just a photographer, but a true chronicler of Ruse. Over the years, he tirelessly documents, preserves and shares the stories of the city, capturing its spirit and changing faces. Thanks to black and white photography, which emphasizes the essential and makes the eye stop on the important details, his photos acquire a special depth and impact. They contain emotion, insight and understanding of time and people. Each photograph by Lebikyan is an expression of personal dedication and love for Ruse.