05 November 24

I and Bulgaria

The art project will focus on my years spent in Bulgaria. There, I found a strong connection with nature, met friends for life, learned how to be a foreigner, and appreciated family and national traditions, customs, art and culture. More than thirty apart, I feel the same warmnes

The art project will focus on my years spent in Bulgaria. There, I found a strong connection with nature, met friends for life, learned how to be a foreigner, and appreciated traditions, customs, and culture. More than thirty years after my first arrival in Sofia, I still feel the same warmth despite all the challenges and experiences this land gave me. At one point, I felt myself half Bulgarian…

I will work with my colleagues, relatives, friends, and strangers from the streets of Sofia. The most exciting thing is that strangers can approach you with their poetry books and recite a few poems, too. These experiences might also turn into subprojects on the way.

The title might change, too.

NDK Sofia
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06 November 24

Bulgarian Poetry and traces back to 1990th

Today is day two of my project. The memory brought back a few words that floated silently and boldly on the surface of my conscious thinking.

Literature: Pavel Vezzinov – Barier. I read it in Russian before my first visit to Bulgaria.

Golden Threads is a compilation of poems by Nikola Rakitin published in 1922.

Ivan Vazov, Under the Yoke

Pavlo Arhypovych Zahrebelnyi, Roksolana

Food: festive biscuits, banitsa, sweets called ‘Chernomorets’, lukanka, rakia, peaches, pears, watermelon, melon, peppers, pink tomatoes, Easter bread, black sea fish, pancakes, strange butter, yoghurt, ‘tipoff’ bread, and lentils. Waffle “Moreni”.

Words: shisharka, goliamo, zivot, vlak, perdeta, kosa, roklia, swetlo sinio, cherveno, leglo. dete, lepilo, obich, razhodka, gora, planina, momiche, momche, devoika, ‘az ne pusha’. I am a fluent speaker of the Bulgarian language, but these words were the first I learned.

I am trying to recall my first impression of Bulgarian culture and literature. It is an exciting memory stroll to understand how my present thinking has been formed throughout the years. Why did I need to move away from the country? Why could I not eat peppers and tomatoes for so many years afterwards? Why did I refuse any ironing with the stay-of-the-art iron?  Why, on receiving certain news, did I want to go out and beg on the streets?

In 1990th, I was mesmerised by colourful traditional costumes, intricate embroidery, carved wooden gifts, magnificent tablecloths, and hands by so many crafty women selling homemade lace items on the streets.

Bulgarians love talking to children outside and talking to strangers, can smile and say ‘hello’ on the streets. These were my first impressions of Bulgarian life in the last century.

 

 

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