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© Julia Lazarova
Teodor Ushev
Teodor Ushev is an animator, director, and graphic designer. He was born in 1968 in Kyustendil. In 2017, his film “Blind Vaisha”, based on the story of the same name by Georgi Gospodinov, was nominated for an Oscar for animated short film. Ushev is one of the artists who most strongly and consistently supports the protests against the government and the attorney general. This is what he said in an interview with Deutsche Welle:
Mr. Ushev, you support the demands of the protest, including the resignations of Prime Minister Borissov and his government, Ivan Geshev, Emil Koshlukov and Tsveta Karayancheva. Why?
– My personal observation from the months I spent here is that the situation in the country has drastically deteriorated. The trends that have been evolving for decades have “become” a kind of cult of personality for a group of people who are already in control of all activities in the country. And if there are still some independent free-thinking and entrepreneurial groups in Sofia, then in the province dependence on the welfare of those in power has reached the extent of totalitarianism since the time of the communist regime.
Corruption, shurobadzhanism, seizure of personal businesses, bureaucracy, broken administration, and as a result, a stagnant economy and loss of motivation for people to work. When people see the laziest and most illiterate individuals enrich themselves enormously by abusing European subsidies just because of their close relationship with the local feudal lord, it demotivates them and people feel robbed. And this scheme is imposed practically from the smallest town to all state institutions.
Liability between subordinates is reduced to zero. Mediocracy has established itself in the country, a system in which incompetent and mediocre people are appointed to positions of responsibility not because of their qualities, but because they are obedient, someone’s family, and ultimately serve the interests of the triumvirate. Borisov – Dogan – Peevski. The atmosphere in the country is toxic, you literally cannot breathe, those in power are arrogant, rude, brutally insolent, and the propaganda and agitation of the media they own is incessant, led by frankly illiterate people.
A total reboot of the country is needed, and the people in question in key positions are just the tip of the iceberg. People who work and think they will recover the country or all will have to go to Terminal 2 of the airport.
Almost three months after the protests began, more than 400 representatives of culture and science signed an open letter in support of the protests. Why is this reaction only now?
– Precariators are not an organized stratum of people, they do not have the habit of jumping and reacting in line, as do the armies of prosecutors, members of the ruling party or workers dependent on employers or unions. We are first and foremost individuals, each with their own different political views.
During these months, more than once we have individually expressed our disapproval of the system. Some were regularly in the square, others (like me) didn’t like political zombies clinging to the cause. And whenever one of us expressed a position, there was an attack from the government and administration trolls.
And our class has been the one that has suffered the most from the COVID crisis. Our economic logic is clear: you have an audience, performances or books, you have bread. Unfortunately, the shrinking stratum of people who are active consumers of culture is strongly influenced by their political leanings. While for me it doesn’t matter what political views an artist has, be it GERB, communist or green, if he’s good, I respect him. But unfortunately, most people here don’t believe it. In our territory I like it – I don’t like it is often associated with guerrilla warfare. All of these things have probably influenced the motivation of my colleagues.
Most of us are sensitive artists who have a hard time with any insult or attack. Few are willing to endure hatred and hatred; after all, applause at the end of a show or a kind word is often our only payment.
Let’s talk about the state of culture in Bulgaria: what makes you desperate, where do you find inspiration?
– My inspiration comes from the dozens of talented people who work in the field of culture. Now I am shooting my first feature film in Bulgaria, entitled “F1.618”, and I am fascinated by the professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm with which we work with colleagues. They are people who are deeply motivated to do things in the best way, regardless of conditions and adversities.
If people in high positions of power were as motivated as all my colleagues in the film, this country would prosper. I’m sure the same is true in other arts. It is for these young and not so young that it is worth fighting for and for our children.
And how do you prefer to get around, on foot or by metro? I use the controversy surrounding Ms. Karayancheva’s statement in question to ask her when respect for language and illustration began to drift away from the criteria by which we elect governors.
– I walk. And the government seems to have forgotten what they were chosen for: to make life easier for citizens. Building transport arteries is part of your job and not something to hit in the chest. That’s what they are chosen for, not for the permanent tours of the morning blocks and nonsense.
Being in power is not hanging out with hairdressers and thinking about how you see yourself on the screen, or how you rate yourself, or what car they take you from one studio to another. Facts, education, good manners, perfect command of at least two languages, and moderate speech should be the main criteria by which we elect our rulers.
They are our servants, not the reborn avatars of Louis XIV. Absolutism and feudalism were the norm centuries ago. Now they are simply grotesque obsolescence, and the self-forgotten feudal lords of today will understand that very soon.
