Petar Lazarov / Mark Boychev

Petar Lazarov

The approach to the realization of graphic works is the same as in opera, the author shares. “I give voice, I stage the relationships and the position of the characters, with each portrait image being based on real-life faces. The new fiction created in this way leads to a new drama, a new reading of an ancient text.” Greek drama tightens the bow of the life drama drastically. The author takes on the challenge, emphasizing it through the fine balance of contrasts, with the “duets and tercets” that is, the relationships of the characters, with the harmony between dots, lines, spots and lines and with the letterpress technique. Petar Lazarov’s graphic music comes to life before us.

Mark Boychev

“Ritual” is a composition based on Petko R. Slaveykov’s poem “The Source of the White-Legged Horse”. Whether the work is a legend, fiction or a cruel and sad reality, can be understood from the archaeological research that has been done, which confirms the truth through bones found on the bridges. The victims were the most beautiful girls in the village. Impressed by the Greek drama, we see that our narrative is not one iota inferior in strength, cruelty and false high goals. Looking for some invented and controlling morality, apparently all of humanity is ready for cruelty. The composition “Samodivy” by Hristo Botev, based on the ballad “Hadji Dimitar” is transformed and spiritualized poetry.

Petar Lazarov, engraving

We have the rare opportunity to see live works by one of the most valuable Bulgarian and world graphic artists. The facts of his career speak unequivocally for this. Born in Plovdiv, he studied in Veliko Tarnovo, then sharply expanded the geography of his creative path: Japan (where he perfected his skills, including the Japanese papermaking technique), China (where he was a visiting artist and teacher for years), the Netherlands (he is among the few living artists whose works are included in the official collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where Rembrandt’s work “The Night Watch” is also located). You will also find his works in prestigious museums and collections in Great Britain, Belgium, the USA, Canada, Japan…

Mark Boychev, sculpture

The sculptor has an enviable creative biography for his 30 years. A tireless, searching author who always pursues the best, setting high standards for himself in the field he has chosen. Sculpture is his great dream: “I prefer to knead clay than to paint”. The materials he most often works with are wood, clay and brass. According to Anna Halamyan, the constructive foundation in his work is the Bulgarian tradition and its roots. He is inspired by the poetry of Hristo Botev (he has been pursuing this vast topic since his first year), Hristo Fotev, as well as by the epic narrative and the legends and traditions woven into it.