The exhibition “Fading Species” has captured snapshot stories about the power of the soul of people who have lost many things, but not the will to live.

The Contemporary Art Gallery UniCredit Studio presents “Fading Species”, a unique exhibition of photographs taken by the reporter of Nova TV Maria Milkova. The event is part of the “Fotofabrika” Festival, whose main partner for a second consecutive year is UniCredit Bulbank. Maria won first prize in the street photography contest “The Street: States and Conditions” which is part of the 2014 “Fotofabrika” Festival and was given the opportunity to have an own exhibition at UniCredit Studio. The “Fading Species” exhibition has captured snapshot stories about the power of the soul of people who have lost many things but not the will to live. The exhibition was officially inaugurated yesterday evening by Levon Hampartzoumian, CEO of UniCredit Bulbank, and Emmy Barouh, Director of the “Fotofabrika” Foundation.

“We would like to congratulate those who have helped the heroes of this exhibition. We will do everything possible to save the “Fading Species”, because it is our duty to do so”, Levon Hampartzoumian said during the elegant ceremony.

“I am happy that you were able to get close to the people whose stories I have been telling in the last few years. They encounter many difficulties in their lives, but their stories always end with positivism, which is the good news. I am still looking for these people and would like to thank everybody for the support”, Maria Milkova confided prior to the inauguration of the exhibition.

The “Fading Species” are the fading Human species. Maybe you walk across them every day, but you are not aware of it. Hidden, alone, and very quietly they are crossing borders which look insurmountable. Can a blind man be an artist? And can a man with no hands become a photographer? Maria Milkova’s exhibition gives the answers to these questions.

The heroes from these stories look like ordinary people, but they are achieving so much more with their willpower. The life of Teodosiy Teodosiev has led him to the classrooms of the old Technical Secondary School for Hydraulics in Kazanlak. There he trained one of the best physicists and mathematicians in the world in a building where there is no electricity, no water, and often, no heating. His dream is to transform the old school of a small village in the Balkans near Gabrovo into a “School for the poor”. Thus, he hopes to give everyone an equal start for achieving success.

Another touching story is the one of a small girl from Kostenets who found the internal strength to give hope. At the end of last year, the eleven-year-old Nia Hadzhiyska cut her locks and donated them to her teacher who is suffering from cancer. The girl is aware that the physical limits do not matter. She was born with one hand and has been wearing a prosthetic limb since she was little, but this does not prevent her from dancing.

Another one of the “Fading Species” is Viktor Kirkov, who looks for homeless young boys and attracts them to play football in the “Team of Hope”. In this way, they are given a chance to finish their education, find a home, a job and have a normal life.

The audience knows the author of the interesting photographs from Nova TV’s broadcast. Maria has a degree in Journalism from the University of National and World Economy. From 2006 to 2012 she worked for a famous daily newspaper in Sofia, and in November 2012 she became a Nova TV reporter.

UniCredit Studio attendees will be able to see which are the other snapshots captured by the lens of Maria Milkova between September 25th and October 23rd 2015.

UniCredit Studio Gallery

Sofia, “Knyaz Aleksandar I” 12

Working hours of the Gallery:

10:00 - 18:30h from Monday to Friday

Free entrance

UniCredit Bulbank FOR the culture

UniCredit Bulbank develops a targeted programme to support projects of value in the field of culture. UniCredit Studio was inaugurated in January 2012 and ever since it has given many young talents and interesting photographic exhibitions the opportunity to be seen.

Further information for clients:

UniCredit Bulbank, Call Centre

Phone number: 0700 1 84 84

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Viktoria Blajeva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Magdalena Ivanova, Phone: + 359 2 9232 528, nbhebmfob/jwbopwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch