Today, the artist and former politician Vezhdi Rashidov celebrates his 73rd birthday.
He was born on December 14, 1951 in Dimitrovgrad.
He graduated from the Art High School in Sofia, and in 1978 he graduated from the Art Academy, majoring in “Sculpture” under Prof. D. Daskalov, where he later taught as an established artist.
His creative manifestations from the very beginning of his path in art have been strong and numerous. In 1985, he left for France after a competition for “Cité des Arts” in Paris. He participates in group, thematic and solo exhibitions in all major cities in the country, in most European countries and world cultural centers.
He shows his works in more than 45 solo exhibitions in Plovdiv, Gabrovo, Basel, Paris, Varna, Warsaw, St. Zagora, Krakow, London, Dimitrovgrad, Delhi, Moscow, Yerevan, Sofia, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Ankara, Sapporo, Vienna, Izmir, Sozopol, Seoul, Berlin, Washington, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Belgrade, Deauville, Palma de Mallorca, Heerde (Netherlands), Bonn, etc. In Paris alone, prestigious galleries have organized his solo exhibitions eight times.
The themes of his sculptures and small sculptures are diverse, always dedicated to man and his dramatic states, recreated in original artistic images. His style in art is characterized by a bright individual plasticity and a strong emotional charge. The world-famous French sculptor Cesar says: “The Bulgarian artist Vezhdi Rashidov has placed himself and his country among the highest peaks of the culture of the 20th century, now and forever.
What he does is wonderful, touched by expressionism... it is so captivating. He is so strong in his radiance, so powerful... It is obvious how many cultural layers are present in his works. He is one of the neoclassicists of our time”.
About Vezhdi Rashidov, Henri Loiret, Director-President of the Louvre Museum, says: “Before we met, I was familiar with the qualities of Vezhdi Rashidov - a different person from the norm, whose credo is the development of museums and art in Bulgaria. The man and the artist immediately captivated me. An inspired and principled man, curious about everything, concerned about everyone.
A man who carries the image of an “innovator in art” and leads, as Emile Zola put it in his time - “the good fight” in the name of protecting artistic creativity. His sculptors have his image - generous, open, far from the conventional. His faces, busts, no matter how eclectic they are, have a common feature - they are not seen, they are looked at.”
The remarkable qualities of Vezhdi Rashidov's works have also been marked by numerous awards, crowning the bright talent of their creator, recognition for great art:
Award for sculpture at the International Symposium in Burgas ’78, from the National Art Exhibition in Pleven ’78, Vatican Gold Medal in the name of Dante Alighieri ’81, First Prize at the International Biennial of Humor and Satire in Gabrovo ’83, award for a portrait of the artist Boris Dimovski (1983), Honorary Gold Medal of the European Academy of Arts - Paris, “For exceptional services to the human community” ’85;
Silver medal at the First World Triennial of Portrait Sculpture in Gdansk, Poland, in 1987, Award at the World Art Exhibition of the Prince of Monaco, 1987; Honorary diploma of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia in 1989; Honorary diploma of the “Art Horizons” Foundation - New York in 1989, The Grand Annual Prize of the Union of Bulgarian Artists for Sculpture named after Marko Markov in 1989, The Prize of the Yunekura Chain - Japan in 1996,
The Award of the “Art Dialogue” Association for the Best Foreign Author for the Period 1989-1996 His works are in almost all galleries in the country, as well as in many private collections and museums abroad: Pushkin Museum - Moscow, Ludwig Foundation - Cologne, National Gallery - Yerevan, National Gallery - Warsaw, Mannzu Museum - Tokyo, Korita Museum - Tokyo, Statis Museum, Otaro - Japan, Eckley Foundation - Paris, Tilsen Museum - Canada, National Gallery - Ankara.
Vezhdi Rashidov is a member of: the International Academy of Plastic Arts at UNESCO, the European Academy of Arts, the Paris Salon d'Automne.
He was also a member of the Council for Spiritual Development under the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. Corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He is an honorary citizen of Armenia, the city of Kardzhali, the city of Madan, the city of Dulovo, the city of Pravets, the city of Dimitrovgrad.
For his bright participation in international cultural life and high art, Vezhdi Rashidov has been awarded 14 international awards. He is a recipient of the Vatican Medal, a recipient of the Order of Alexander Nevsky, 1st degree of the Russian Federation, a recipient of the Order of Merit of Ukraine and Turkey, 1st degree, a recipient of the Order of Stara Planina, 1st degree and the Order of Cyril and Methodius.
In June 2009, he was awarded the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Specialized Higher School of Library Science and Information Technologies for his great contribution to Bulgarian culture and active civic position.
On June 24, 2009, in Moscow, at the Etcetera Theater Vezhdi Rashidov received the Grand Prize in the field of sculpture “VERA” at the Third Moscow International Festival of Arts ”Traditions and Modernity”.
At a solemn ceremony in Moscow on March 6, 2010, Vezhdi Rashidov was awarded the title of Academician of the International Academy of Art and Culture for his entire work.
On June 14, 2012 in Yerevan, Armenia awarded Vezhdi Rashidov with the highest distinction - the Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Culture.
Elected as a deputy to the 41st National Assembly from the MIR - Kardzhali constituency, as the leader of the list of the PP GERB.
From July 27, 2009 to March 13, 2013, Vezhdi Rashidov was Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria.