Bulgarian artist Rumen Statkov in a new "Dance" with his audience

He is an artist as well as a philosopher. He likes to tell stories in colours, but also listen to them in melodies. He is Rumen Statkov and just a few days ago, on October 17, he presented his latest exhibition entitled "Dance" at the Nirvana gallery in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

"These are paintings made for my audience. It demanded them," the artist himself admitted to Radio Bulgaria. The exhibition is an artistic continuation of the cycle of paintings shown last year in the same place and united under the title "Whimsical Whirlwind of Strokes", which abstractly explained the interconnected world we live in. Today this whirlwind is already a dance of different techniques, colors and shades of life yesterday, today and tomorrow. Movement of human figures as evidence of life in 40 artistic panels imbued with positivism and hope.‎

‎"Actually, this is our human presence on the web, which I have named "Dance". Here, I rather pay attention to the drawing and the moment in ‎the movement of a figure. As one of my colleagues said – "Rumba, with ‎so little you have achieved so much". It is this simplicity that I use to emphasize line and movement.

The truth is that everything that moves is a sign of life. That is, there is movement, there is life. And I prefer to emphasize the positive, to be closer to love, to joy, to reason. Somehow these figures move not under the falling bombs, but just the opposite, because in life there is both. Maybe, God forbid, somewhere a bomb is killing people in this very moment. At the same time, in another place, people are dancing and loving each other. And in yet another place they are doing something else. The world is very strange, but this exhibition is optimistic."

Rumen Statkov is one of the artists who believe that art, not beauty, will save the world. And he is an active participant in this "salvation". Exactly 30 years ago, at the invitation of journalist Neri Terzieva and television director Hacho Boyadzhiev, the artist made his first attempt to "translate" classical and folk Bulgarian music on canvas, or more precisely, on glass. In 1994, Statkov painted pictures live in a project of the Bulgarian National Television against the backdrop of a performance by the Philip Koutev folk ensemble and Boris Christoff. These music-painting concerts continued to happen sporadically until last year, when interest in them increased.

And this year they are already the basis of a whole festival called "Musical Painters". At the beginning of September, the Sea Casino in Statkov's hometown Burgas hosted the first three-day edition of the event. Among the musicians on the stage were the pianist Fani Koutzarova, the musician Ventsi Trifonov and gadulka player Martin Vladimirov. Rumen Statkov was, of course, in front of the canvas.

On October 11, the four visited the National Museum of Music in Prague with the project "Piazzolla and more", presenting classical and folklore music in piano, clarinet and gudulka variations. And the portrait of the music was again the work of Statkov, who did not hide his gratitude to the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in the Czech capital for the help and support in organizing the eclectic art evening. Each one of those present in the hall could for a symbolic sum buy one of the watercolors painted on the stage.

‎"I manage to hear each instrument separately and when I paint it helps me", says the artist. All three instruments create such a harmony that helps me finish the watercolor. The truth is that what we do is very real, it is unorchestrated and is happening right in front of the people's eyes. There is no lie, no deception, and this is wonderful. On October 22nd we open the "Musical Artists" festival. It's a symbiosis between the arts and the idea is that it should be at the basis of the way we depict our world." ‎

The program of the festival will last until November 20 and includes recitals by established musicians and young emerging artists, spreading the glory of Bulgarian culture around the world. Until the end of November, visitors will be able to see the exhibition "Dance" in the Nirvana Gallery. With a slight nod to the political scene in our country, and not only, the artist shares:‎

"The creation of any work begins first with a thought. A person feels something, thinks, designs and slowly and consistently implements it and finally finishes it. Politicians can learn that the thing they are currently starting to do will give its result in 10 years. I would like them to avoid extremes. I know that we can't go forward without a left and a right foot, but at least someone guides these two feet somehow. Where is the common sense? That's what politicians have to do - lead the two different circles and we move forward, not backwards." ‎

As for the dance and its rhythm among the people - the important thing is to have it, says Rumen Statkov: "Even mentally dancing is not bad, because it is movement, and movement is life!"

Photos: Vessela Krasteva

Publication in English: Rositsa Petkova