Outdoor Exhibition – 100 Years Since the Birth of Stefan Furtunov, Park of Humor, Gabrovo
The Museum of Humor and Satire marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Stefan Furtunov, with an outdoor documentary exhibition in the Park of Humor, produced by Fernet Bulgaria. Under the motto “Laughter Cannot Be Homeless”, the exhibition traces the life and work of the man who transformed Gabrovo’s tradition of humor into a cultural institution of international significance. Born on 29 April 1926, Stefan Furtunov was a lawyer by education and a visionary by vocation. He graduated in Law from Sofia University and worked as a legal adviser at the Gabrovo City People’s Council. At the same time, he was actively involved in the city’s cultural life as Deputy Chairman of the Aprilov–Palauzov Community Centre and Secretary of the Club of Cultural Figures. A key milestone in his career came in 1966 with the publication of the collection “Gabrovo Jokes”, compiled by Furtunov, illustrated by Boris Dimovski, and edited by Radoy Ralin. In the years that followed, the book was published in more than 2.4 million copies and translated into over 20 languages, becoming an international symbol of Gabrovo humor. Inspired by this tradition, Furtunov went on to establish a unique cultural institution – the House of Humor and Satire. Together with his associates Mihail Mihov and Veselin Vasilev, he developed the concept for the future institution between 1968 and 1972. A remarkable circle of artists and cultural figures gathered around the project. Among them were Radoy Ralin, author of the famous motto “The world has survived because it has laughed”; Boris Dimovski, artist and cartoonist whose illustrations, murals and souvenirs became part of the institution’s visual identity; Todor Tsonev, who contributed ideas for its name and spatial concept; and Bogdan Benev, creator of its iconic logo. Crucial support also came from architect Karl Kandulkov, then Mayor of Gabrovo and author of the architectural project through which an industrial building began its transformation into the House of Humor and Satire in 1972. The first Biennial of Humor and Satire was held in 1973, and on 17 May 1975 the building was officially opened. In a gesture perfectly reflecting the spirit of the institution, its façade was temporarily “wrapped” and decorated by Boris Dimovski with illustrations from Gabrovo Jokes. Over the following decades, the House established itself as an international centre for humor and satire. In 1980, during the 21st session of the UNESCO General Conference in Belgrade, the institution was officially included in the UNESCO network as an international information centre for humor and satire – a unique status with no equivalent elsewhere in the world. Stefan Furtunov received the honorary title “Distinguished Cultural Figure” and was awarded the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, First Class. In 2003, he was named an Honorary Citizen of Gabrovo in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the city’s cultural life. Since 2015, one of the representative halls of the Museum of Humor and Satire has borne his name. Stefan Furtunov passed away on 25 June 2010 in Gabrovo, leaving behind an institution that continues to live, inspire and laugh to this day. The exhibition presents archival documents, photographs and personal accounts tracing the creation and development of the House of Humor and Satire – a story of vision, perseverance and the enduring power of a cultural idea. “True humor knows no boundaries – it crosses them and becomes the shared heritage of people all over the world.” — Stefan Furtunov
