Sofia Hosts Craftsmen’s Christmas Bazaar Exhibition

Veneta Nikolova, bnr.bg

On the eve of Christmas, citizens and guests of the capital can visit "Sredets" Gallery to see the rich bazaar exhibition of handmade products of some of the most common and at the same time most ancient crafts.

For a second year, Sofia’s regional craftsmen’s chamber in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture organizes a bazaar exhibition. Works of 16 Bulgarian artists who represent century-old crafts are exhibited. Handmade carpets, decorated with typical folk ornaments, an original loom and other methods for home-woven fabrics are on display.

What’s more, there are plenty of wood-carving works, icons, lampions, copper and glass vessels, pottery of all shapes and colors, silver jewelry, handmade dolls, dressed in traditional national costumes from all corners of the country, silk scarves, all models of hats, and mummer’s masks demonstrate the wealth of Bulgarian crafts. The exhibition has just returned from Milan where it received much acclaim.

Iolanta Tsenova, defining herself as a copper-craftswoman, exhibits very interesting copper thalers in different sizes and decoration as well as forged copper plates engraved with images of Bulgarian historical sites. On Christmas eve, her foil Christmas cards sell really well.

“The foil cards are handmade,” Iolanta Tsenova explains, “They are unique and cannot be bought anywhere else but online or here at the exhibition. The foil cards are in fact an application of metal foil pieces on cardboard. I used ribbons in all colors as well. Foil gives me a lot of freedom of expression, that’s why I use it. Whenever I ‘touch’ the foil, I feel immense satisfaction that I am able to fully express my artistic ideas. I often participate in exhibitions abroad.”

Ivan Vlaev is ceramist, who exhibits a curious collection of pottery plates, antique vessels, vases, candlesticks, mummer’s masks and other Christmas decoration.

“This is a candlestick in a snail shape,” Ivan Vlaev explains. “Here is another piece I call “the thorny vessel”. I have departed from traditional forms and have later given them a more contemporary touch. Ceramics has a century-old tradition in our lands. In my work, I get inspired by nature, Bulgarian customs from all folklore regions. But I also draw inspiration from the cultural traditions of other peoples. This is how I enrich my work. I am happy that people in my country as well as abroad appreciate my work!”