"Whatever you say, say it gently, like a flower!", these are the words of a Bulgarian who has dedicated his whole life to art and beauty. Gancho Taskov lives in Melbourne, Australia, where he is famous as the King of Flowers, because of his fantastically beautiful flower installations, with which he steals the applause at all world flower exhibitions around the world.

 The latest work of the Bulgarian phytodesigner is a huge flower structure under the title "The Creation" at the Melbourne International Flower Biennale, which took place a few days ago.

"I deal with aesthetics and fashion illustration, with graphics and painting, I have gone through all artistic styles," says Gancho. Although he has lived for more than 4 decades on the other side of the globe, Bulgaria is still close to his heart and he often travels to his native town of Kyustendil, where he was born 72 years ago:‎

‎"I haven't even changed my name. Because here it is difficult to pronounce and its spelling is specific - Gancho, they tell me - "You can be Gani Toscani!” But it's too Italian, I wouldn't want it. Then they say - ‎‎"You can be Gerry Thomson!". But this is very English, and I feel Bulgarian, I prefer to be called Gancho. Because Bulgaria is my homeland. It is true, I grew up in a totalitarian regime, but despite everything, I love it, it is an extremely beautiful country!"  says Gancho Taskov.

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His sense of beauty is also materialized in the home garden, where the Bulgarian grows all kinds of flowers, including Bulgarian roses, as well as vegetables. Part of this wealth ends up on the home table, another part turns into colourful sculptures.

"Phytodesign is a pure art, there are no kitsch and decadent phenomena in it", claims the famous Bulgarian, who regularly exhibits his installations in Bulgaria as well.

In 2019, Gancho opened an exhibition with phytodesign in Sofia, and the proceeds were used to build houses for orphaned children in the Veliko Tarnovo village of Ledenik, we learn from him himself. His creativity is multi-layered, and very often it is connected with his love for his homeland. This is how Gancho Taskov is preparing to welcome May 24 - the day of Bulgarian Literature and Alphabet, one of our most beloved holidays:

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"Even now I have prepared an exhibition which will be called "We have also given something to the world". It will be on ancient parchment in 13 Slavic languages with psalms from the Bible and with frescoes on wood, where there will also be psalms, but from Svaleykov’s translation of the Bible in connection with the 150^th anniversary of its publication.My other exhibition is graphics, dedicated to artistic gymnastics - one of the contemporary symbols of Bulgaria. Last summer I had an exhibition on this topic in Kyustendil. The city is the cradle not only of art and artists, but also of artistic gymnastics, because it has given more than 20 gymnasts to our national team. The opening of this exhibition will be on 1 October in Melbourne. In 2022, I presented it in Sydney, where it was met with great interest and even the Minister of Culture bought two paintings."

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Gancho Taskov’s art is irrevocably connected with charity and with the support of various causes. In 2022, in the Canadian city of Vancouver, the Bulgarian presented 12 watercolour paintings of endangered animal species in Australia at the invitation of the World Organization for the Protection of Animals, and the funds went to their protection. Gancho is a multi-layered artist with different talents. In the late 1980s, he was twice Lady Diana's personal designer. Here's what he remembers from her:

‎"She was very kind, natural, easygoing, shy, that's why she was called the People's Princess and if it were not for royal protocol, she would have behaved like an ordinary modern sophisticated young lady. I designed six evening outfits for her. I still have her charitable letters and I plan to sell them at an auction in London, because through them I want to help people, especially orphans left on the street," Gancho Taskov said in conclusion.

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Read more about successful Bulgarians abroad: 

• Boris Borisov, a Bulgarian in California

• A Bulgarian businessman from Chicago wants to save the church "St. Ivan Rilski"

• Bilyana Miteva from Izmail wants to create music that will banish sadness from wounded souls