MARIA and VALERY VARBANOV
RESUME:
Maria Varbanova and
Valery Varbanov are representatives of the modern generation Bulgarian
artists. Both artists are not only connected by matrimonial relations,
but by shared aesthetic philosophy. Their combined creative work and
search of most adequate forms of expression makes them a phenomenon of
artistic symbiosis. They are famous with their unique collaboration in
the creative process.
During their artistic
careers Maria and Valery Varbanov have realized few Collaborative and
several Solo art-projects – in the field of abstract, realistic and
photo-realistic art. They are experimenting in wide range of genres –
Abstract and Surrealistic compositions, Still Life in Classical and
Photo-Realism, Photorealistic Portraits. In their creative process they
are using a computer in the building of the primary projects for their
paintings.
In artists’ latest
artworks from their Collaborative New Project “Realistic+Abstract”
started in 2003 Maria&Valery combined the realistic with the abstract
and realized several series of abstract composition with realistic
elements, which may be seen featured in their common web site –
www.varbanov-art.com
They have specific and exceptional technique of acrylic (or oil) with
many layers of colors, made by ordinary brush and airbrush. This unique
combination of the old traditional paint technique with modern
instruments as airbrush gives Maria&Valery’s paintings a magnificent
depth and atmosphere.
During last few years
they are working also in the field of the art-photography, body-art and
video-art. In their series of Body-Art-Photography and Video-Art Maria
and Valery are screening/projecting their artworks over nude or over the
bodies of dancers and “shoot” these compositions in photos and videos;
this way Maria&Valery combined visual art with the dance
-
more photos
>>. The resulted
unique as photography, and as body-art artworks they are traditionally
exhibiting together with their paintings.
After the Graduation from
the Art Academy in 1990 they are taking part in numerous National and
International Juried Exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad. After 1995 they
are exhibiting mainly in foreign galleries, thus now they are more
well-known artists abroad - in Stavanger, Norway, Palo Alto and Boston,
USA, in Tokyo,Japan and Sydney, Australia, than in Bulgaria.
In 2008 Maria & Valery Varbanov were the only Bulgarian artists who
represented Bulgaria in Stavanger’08 – European Capital of Culture, with
Collaborative exhibition: “The Forbidden Fruit – Realistic and Mystic”
in one of the biggest private galleries in Norway
-
more photos
>>.
In 2009 Maria &Valery
realized their exclusive (and not only for Bulgaria) Artists’ Reality
Project: On-line “Open Studio” Reality -“The Forbidden Fruit –
Temptation”. For 12 days Maria and Valery Varbanov created art alive in
an Art Gallery in Ruse, Bulgaria, and demonstrated their entire creative
process and unique collaboration in work - airbrush painting, multimedia
projections, and body-art creative photo-sessions. This entire workshop
- submitted on strong scenario, mixed with many lifestyle events in the
gallery, and resulted with an exhibition, was Live-streamed on Internet
-
more photos
>>.
In 2016 they performed the Second Edition of the original
project “Open Studio” in Art Gallery and Museum “Philippopolis”, Plovdiv.
For
a period of two weeks, they
did
live painting in
the
gallery and
made
live streaming of the event on the Web.
The
difference from
the first edition
is that this time they all 3 created art alive
including their
17-years-old
son Bogdan Varbanov - a student in 10th grade at High
School Of Fine Arts
“Tsanko
Lavrenov”,
Plovdiv.
The artworks by Maria and
Valery Varbanov are to be found in two National Galleries in Bulgaria,
and in numerous Corporate and Private Collections at home and abroad.
Among the most important collectors of their art are Edoardo Miroglio
(the biggest Italian investor in Bulgaria
-
more photos
>>, and
Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said. In 2010 they created two
Still-Life Paintings which have been ordered from the Government of Oman
for the Villa of Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Recently they completed another two still lives
for the Royal Dining in the Villa of Sultan of Oman at Bait Bahjat Al
Andhaar in Sohar -
more photos
>>.
More information about
the art of Maria Varbanova and Valery Varbanov, their latest artworks,
and artists’ statements you may find at their web sites:
www.varbanov-art.com - The
New Project by Maria & Valery Varbanov “Realistic+Abstract”
www.varbanov-art.com/maria
-
Maria Varbanova
>>
www.varbanov-art.com/valery
-
Valery
Varbanov >>
|
|
EXHIBITIONS:
“The Forbidden Fruit -
The Knowledge”
Maria & Valery
Varbanov's
Exhibition, Life-painting Show, Body-art Performance & Photo-session
in "George Papazov"
Gallery
and Show in the Night of
Museums and Galleries, Plovdiv 2010
more photos
>>
Maria & Valery Varbanov
represented Bulgaria in Stavanger’08
– European Capital of Culture
with
Collaborative Exhibition
“The Forbidden Fruit – Realistic
and Mystic”
paintings, art photography, workshop and video-art projections, and
life-painting-show
in the biggest private gallery in
Norway - Gallery "Amare" in Stavanger, Norway
8th May
- 6th June 2008
The event was
sponsored by:
The
Bulgarian Ministry of Culture
Bulgarian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Communication
Strategy for the EU accession of
Bulgaria
the Norwegian
Concern "Risa" and "Jaerbetong"
more photos
>>
Collaborative exhibition of Maria
and Valery Varbanov - "The
Apple - Realistic and Abstract"-
paintings, art photography, video
art - at the
Bulgarian Ministry of Culture,
"Sredets"
Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria
September 2007
more photos
>>
Maria at Art Center "Altera"
in the World Trade Center Interpred, Sofia,
Bulgaria, May 2007
more photos >>
Collaborative exhibition of Maria
and Valery Varbanov -
"Realistic + Abstract"
- paintings and workshop -
at Art Gallery
"Seasons",
Sofia, Bulgaria, March 2007
more photos
>>
Maria represented Bulgaria on the First Biannual
EMMA- European Masters of Modern Art, in the Water-Castle of Burgau,
Austria.
60 artists from 33 countries were selected for the EMMA exhibition.
Maria won
3rd place at the EMMA Visitors' Award.
The three paintings, which Maria showed at EMMA
are the best from her
“Portraits of Apples” Series.
Sponsor of Maria’s participation at EMMA is the Bulgarian pharmaceutical
company –Actavis
more photos
>>
Collaborative exhibition of Maria
and Valery Varbanov
at
"Teddy
Gallery", Varna, Bulgaria, December 2006
SOME
COMMISSIONS:
Second order
from Oman's Government for the Royal Dining in the Villa of
Sultan in Sohar
In 2011 another two Still-Life Paintings with fruits and flowers have been
ordered to Maria from the
Government of Oman trough an English art-dealer
for
the Royal Dining in the Villa of
Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said
at Bait Bahjat Al Andhaar in Sohar.
Maria created numbers of compositions
as projects for paintings and 2 of them have been chosen from the
client to be painted. In 2012 Maria completed the two paintings - 100/70 cm in
vertical format, acrylic and oil on canvas:
more photos >>
*****
First
order
from Oman's Government for the Villa of Sultan in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
In 2009 two Still-Life Paintings with fruits and flowers have been
ordered to Maria from the Government of Oman trough an English art-dealer f or
the Villa of
Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said
in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
First Still-Life Maria started to paint during her and Valery’s reality show
“Open Studio”and the process of creation was life-steaming on Internet, thus the Sultan of
Oman
was able to watch the creation of painting alive.
more photos >>
*****
In 2007 the biggest Italian investor in
Bulgaria Edoardo Miroglio ordered to Maria to create a collection of
8 paintings
for the new Hotel in his Wine-cellar in Elenovo, Thracian
region, Bulgaria.
Each painting features different kind of grapes
cultivated in EM Winery.
Maria and Valery Varbanov with Edoardo Miroglio on
Vinaria 2010.
To view this Collection "Portraits of
Grapes"
click
here
During their artistic careers Maria and Valery Varbanov have realized
few Collaborative and several Solo art-projects – in the field of
abstract, realistic and photo-realistic art. They are experimenting in
wide range of genres – Abstract and Surrealistic compositions, Still
Life in Classical Realism and Photorealism, Photorealistic Portraits.
Recently they are working also in the field of the art-photography and
video-art. In their creative process they are using a computer in the
building of the primary projects for their paintings.
After the Graduation from the
University they are taking part in numerous National and International
Exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad. After 1995 they are exhibiting
mainly in foreign galleries, thus now they are more well-known artists
abroad- in Stavanger, Norway, Palo Alto and Boston, USA, in Tokyo, Japan
and Sydney, Australia.
|
MARIA VARBANOVA
- 1966
- Born on February 16th in Bulgaria
1980 - 1985 -
studies at "Tsanko Lavrenov" High School of fineArts,
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1985 - 1990 - graduated from the Department of Fine Arts in the
University of Veliko Tarnovo"St. St. Cyril and Methodius",Bulgaria. Specialized in oil painting 1993 - 1995
- is a teacher in painting and composition at the High School of Fine Arts "Tsanko Lavrenov",
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Since
1992
- Member of the Union of the Bulgarian Artists, Plovdiv
,
and
taken part in National and International
Exhibitions
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
1993
- National Gallery "Zl. Boiadziev", Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1995
- City Gallery
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1997
- Art Gallery "Galleriet", Stavanger, Norway
2003
- Art Gallery "Galeriet", Stavanger, Norway
2006 - Art Gallery "Teddy", Varna, Bulgaria
2007 - Art Gallery "Sezoni", Sofia, Bulgaria
2007
- Art Center "Altera" in the World Trade Center
Interpred, Sofia, Bulgaria
2007
- Maria created a Collection of 8
paintings ordered by the
biggest Italian investor in
Bulgaria Edoardo Miroglio
for his new Hotel in Wine-cellar in Elenovo,
Thracian region
2007
- Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, "Sredets"Hall, Sofia, Bulgaria
2008 - Gallery "Amare", Stavanger, Norway - in the frame of
Stavanger'08 - European
Capital of Culture
2009
-
Art Center RG-21, Ruse, Bulgaria
2010 - Maria created 2 hyper-realistic
Still Life Paintings ordered
from the
Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said
for his Palace in
Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
Germany
2010 -
Gallery “George Papazov”, Plovdiv - Varbanov's Exhibition
“The Forbidden Fruit –
The Knowledge”,
and
Live-Painting-Show and Body-art Performance during the
Night of museums and
galleries, Plovdiv 2010
2011 -
Collaborative Exhibition by Maria&Valery Varbanov
“Still
Realities” at “Le Papilllon” Art Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2011 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
Art Centre RG21, Ruse,
Bulgaria
2012
-
by second order
from the Government of Oman Maria
created
another
two still lives for the Royal Dining in
the Villa of Sultan of Oman at Bait Bahjat Al Andhaar
in Soha
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov in
“Festa” Hotel Sofia
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
National Museum and Art
Gallery, Dulovo, Bulgaria
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
National Gallery,
Silistra, Bulgariа
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
Vidima Art Gallery,
Sevlievo, Bulgaria
2016 -
Exhibition and Second Edition of Online “Open Studio”
Reality in Art Gallery and Museum “Philippopolis”
Plovdiv,
Bulgaria with Valery and Bogdan
Varbanov
AWARDS:
3rd place at
EMMA Visitors' Award - First Biannual
EMMA (European Masters of Modern Art), in the Water-Castle
of
Burgau, Austria,
2007
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
Since 1992
- Participation in the main juried art exhibitions
of the
Association of Artists in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1995
- National Art exhibition "Autumn Saloon",
"Shipka 6" Art
Gallery, Sofia
1993
- International Art Bienale, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
1994
- National Art Exhibition,
Kjustendil, Bulgaria
1995 -
National Art Exhibition, Lovetch, Bulgaria
1995 - 2007-
Galleries "Galeriet"and "Amare",
Stavanger, Norway
2001
- Gallery "Smiegarden", Sandnes, Norway
2002
- Voshan Fine Art Gallery, Palo Alto, CA, USA
2002 -
2007
-"Seki Art Salon", Tokyo, Japan
2003 -
2007
-"Triumph Gallery", Tokyo, Japan
2004
- Tokyo International Art Fair
2004
- Ronald Coles Investment Art Galleries, Sydney,
Australia
2005
- Astrohome Design, Washington, DC, USA
2007 -
Gallery Art-M, Tryavna, Bulgaria
2007
-
Maria represented Bulgaria on the First Biannual
EMMA - European Masters of Modern Art, in the
Water-Castle of Burgau, Austria, where Maria won
3rd place at the EMMA
Visitors' Award
2011
- "Woman in Art" at Gallery-Mall Plovdiv,
Bulgaria
2011
- Christmas Group Exhibition at
Eva's Gallery, Varna
2012
-“Largo”
Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
|
VALERY
VARBANOV
1965 - Born on January 2nd in Bulgaria
1985 - 1990 - graduated from the Departmen of Fine Arts in
the University of Veliko Turnovo "St. St. Cyril and
Methodius", Bulgaria. Specialized in oil painting
Since
1992
- Member of the
Union of the Bulgarian Artists,
Plovdiv
Since
1992 - taken part in National and International
Exhibitions
SELECTED SOLO
EXHIBITIONS:
1993
- National Gallery "Zl. Boiadziev", Plovdiv,
Bulgaria
1995
- City Gallery of the Association of Artists in
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1997
- Art Gallery "Galleriet", Stavanger, Norway
2003 - Art Gallery "Galeriet", Stavanger, Norway
2006
- Art Gallery "Teddy", Varna, Bulgaria
2007
- Art
Gallery "Seasons", Sofia, Bulgaria
2007
- Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, "Sredets" Hall,
Sofia, Bulgaria
2008
- Gallery "Amare", Stavanger, Norway -
in the frame of Stavanger'08 - European
Capital of
Culture
2009
-
Art Center RG-21, Ruse, Bulgaria
2010
-
Gallery “George Papazov”, Plovdiv - Varbanov's
Exhibition “The Forbidden Fruit – The Knolege”
and Live-Painting-Show and Body-art Performance
during the Night of museums and galleries,
Plovdiv 2010
2011 -
Collaborative Exhibition by Maria&Valery
Varbanov – “Still Realities” at “Le Papilllon”
Art Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2011
-
Collaborative exhibition by Maria
and Valery Varbanov at
Art Centre RG21, Ruse,
Bulgaria
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov in
“Festa” Hotel Sofia
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
National Museum and Art
Gallery, Dulovo, Bulgaria
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
National Gallery,
Silistra, Bulgariа
2012 -
Collaborative exhibition by Maria and Valery Varbanov at
Vidima Art Gallery,
Sevlievo, Bulgaria
2016 -
Exhibition and Second Edition of Online “Open Studio”
Reality in Art Gallery and Museum “Philippopolis”
Plovdiv,
Bulgaria with Valery and Bogdan Varbanov
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
Since
1992
- Participation
in all art exhibitions of the
Association of Artists in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
1995 - National Art exhibition "Autumn Saloon",
"Shipka 6" Art Gallery, Sofia
1993
- International Art Bienale, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
1994 - National Art Exhibition, Kjustendil, Bulgaria
1995
- National Art Exhibition, Lovetch, Bulgaria
1995 - 2007
- Art Gallery "Galeriet" and Art Gallery "Amare"
Stavanger, Norway
2001
- Gallery "Smiegarden", Sandnes, Norway
2002 - Voshan Fine Art Gallery, Palo Alto, CA, USA
2002
- International Jubilee Art Colony "Imprimatura"
Vidin, Bulgaria
2005
- Astrohome Design, Washington, DC, USA
2007
- Gallery Art-M, Tryavna, Bulgaria
2011
- Christmas Group Exhibition at
Eva's Gallery,
Varna, Bulgaria
2012
-“Largo”
Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
|
The artworks by Maria and
Valery Varbanov are to be found in two National Galleries in Bulgaria, and
in numerous Corporate and Private Collections at home and abroad. Among
the most important collectors of their art are Edoardo Miroglio (the
biggest Italian investor in Bulgaria), and Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said
al Said.
|
ARTICLES:
“Gulf
Connoisseur” Magazine,
English edition-April/May 2012
http://gulfconnoisseur.com/digital/eng/aprilmay2012/
pages: 87, 88-89, 90-91, 92-93 |
The
newest (3rd) publication about Maria and Valery Varbanov in “Gulf
Connoisseur” Magazine, April/May 2012 issue of luxury lifestyle magazine
which is one of the top magazines in the U.A.E., with distribution in the
Middle East, Turkey, India and Russia. Here with the article “Evolving
Expressions” Maria and Valery have 7 full pages (pages 87 – 93)
representation of their art along with comprehensive interview and many
images of their new paintings.
|
“Gulf Connoisseur”
Magazine, Russian edition-Summer 2012
http://www.gulfconnoisseur.com/digital/rus/gc-rus-summer-2012/index.html
pages: 10,
12-13, 14, 53, 54-55, 56-57, 58-59
|
page: 87 |
pages: 88-89 |
pages: 90-91 |
pages: 92-93 |
“The works of the Bulgarian artist, Maria Varbanova, continue to
evolve as she constantly searches for new means of expression. Her
collaborative project with her artist husband Valery Varbanov, throws more
light on their new style, in which the interplay of light and shade results in
almost photographic realism, while the seemingly unconnected nature of the
subjects hint at abstract art...
Meena Narayan – Editor-in-Chief, Gulf Connoisseur
Magazine,April/May 2012
|
*****
The October/November 2007 issue of the luxury lifestyle magazine
“Gulf Connoisseur”. Here Maria Varbanova
and Valery Varbanov have 6 full pages representation of their Collaborative New Project – “Realistic+Abstract”
and comprehensive interview with them. |
|
|
|
|
“In art and design we look at the works of Maria and Valery Varbanov, two leading Bulgarian artists, who have worked together to blend the realistic with
the abstract.”
Saeeda Al
Abbas – Publisher, Gulf Connoisseur Magazine, October/November issue 2007
These abstract items of still life art though provoking, extremely pleasing to the eye and reach out to touch the inner chords. We take a look at some of the latest works by two Bulgarian artists, Maria and Valery
Varbanov.
Meena Narayan – Editor-in-Chief, Gulf Connoisseur
Magazine,October/November 2007
|
*****
The Bulgarian most luxury
life-style magazine –
"Premium Lifestyle"
represented Maria
& Valery's art in its Spring 2007 and Summer 2007
issues.
"According to art experts, Maria and Valery Varbanov are representatives of the
modern generation of Bulgarian artists.
Both artists are not only connected by matrimonial relations, but by shared
aesthetic philosophy. Their combined creative work and search of most
adequate forms of expression makes them a phenomenon of artistic symbiosis.
...The high professional criteria brings them to clarification of form and
deliberately decorative means of expression...
...Their paintings are dominated by the aesthetics of images purified to symbols."
Bulgarian National
TV, Chanel 1, February 1993
"...the result is extraordinary - abstract painting related to the pure
analytic roots of the concept;
art
that explores and analyses; that has left behind the intuitive confrontation
between abstract and
figurative,
just to the opposite it creates a new figurativeness - active, provoking,
flamboyant in its
color
aggression... and at the same time deep and intimate." Peter Zmeitcharov - art critic, "Kultura" weekly magazine, April 1995
“In my
opinion the New Project – “Realistic+Abstract” by Maria and Valery
Varbanov, in particularly: their exhibition “The Apple – Realistic and
Abstract” defines a very high level of the contemporary art, in diverse
tendencies…
Here you may see references
from different epochs – from the Bible, Dutch masters, and trough the
key-trends of the 20th Century Art - such as photorealism and
minimalism…but now associated with the new medias, the new contemporary
means of expression (such as photography and video-art), all submitted
to an entire theme: “The Apple”- as symbol, but displayed in different
directions. Exactly the presence of that many layers makes this
exhibition really contemporary.
Besides demonstrating their mastership, with this exhibition, the
artists are displaying a very contemporary and conceptual exploitation
on the theme “The Apple”.
The
both artists are not only faithful to their feelings, but as very
knowledgeable people, they wish to express the contemporary way of
thought, the contemporary life.
The
accumulation of such many layers makes this exhibition a phenomenon, an
exceptional event in the beginning of the season. …”
From
the speech of Ruen Ruenov (art critic) on the opening of the
Collaborative Exhibition of Maria and Valery Varbanov “The Apple –
Realistic and Abstract” in the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Sredets
Hall, Sofia
10th
of September, 2007
|
BIO & ARTISTS' STATEMENT
" We were both
born in Bulgaria, where we continue to live and work. One of the
oldest countries in Europe, Bulgaria is situated on the crossroads
between the Eastern and Western Worlds. A rich cultural mixture,
(some dating back 6000 years) - ancient Thracian, Roman, Old Bulgarian
and Turkish, Christian and Islam. Thus, our art is heavily influenced by
traditions of both East and West.
Plovdiv, . . (City of Artists), is the ancient cultural
centre where we proudly live and work. We' ve been drawing and painting
since childhood. Although no specific incident provoked us to paint, we
have always been keenly aware of the artistic beauty of nature in the
world around us. We believe it was the intensity of that interest, that
inspired us to paint. "
Maria began her art education in the High
School of Fine Arts in Plovdiv, where she studied for five years, while
Valery is self-taught during his teens.
Maria and Valery
met in the Fine Arts Department St. St. Cyril and Methodius University
of Veliko Tarnovo, in the same class specializing in plastic arts and
oil painting. Five years later, they aquired their Masters degree
in Fine Art. The University taught specific knowledge in a variety of
paintings, printing techniques, sculpture, perspective, human anatomy
and Art History, while emphasizing extreme comprehension of realism.
They painted portraits, still life, landscapes, the human body, ten
hours a day developing realistic skills. They both graduated from the
University as the best students in the Art Department.
"Veliko Tarnovo, the old capital of the Second
Bulgarian Empire (12th and 13th centuries) –
a picturesque and interesting town, with many old houses, churches, and
an ancient castle on one
of the hills. We consider ourselves fortunate to have experienced life,
in both the oldest and most interesting Bulgarian towns – Veliko Tarnovo
(during University) and Plovdiv (presently) – bathed in an
atmosphere of nature and ancient art ...the ideal environment for an
artist to flourish."
Happily
connected not only by
matrimony, but also
by
shared
aesthetic philosophy,
encouraged post-graduation experimentation in the sphere of abstract art
and surrealism. This resulted in the exciting creation of many paintings
in collaboration. In time however, her deep love for the
Classical-Realistic
style of painting would eventually draw Maria back to those beautiful
still-lifes :
www.varbanov-art.com/maria, while Valery continues his exciting
work in the most interesting field of the
Abstract and Surrealistic
: www.varbanov-art.com/valery.
During those Collaborative years, together they created hundreds of
Photorealistic
Portraits,
from which they developed a
unique pastel
technique for the portraits.
"
Recently we decided to combine
the
realistic with the
abstract
and realized our collaborative New Project of abstract composition with
realistic elements, which may be seen featured in our common web site –
www.varbanov-art.com.
Some artists find the emotional
impulse drives them to create, and seek to reveal that emotion in their
art. Other artists are drawn to innate logic and order; they are likely
to take a rational approach to art. Concerning
our art, we would say
that although we are seeking to find the balance and accord between
emotion and rationality in our paintings, we prefer art with
rational tendencies,
because it brings to our busy lives a sense of balance and harmony.
Regarding our common
life philosophy,
- we always try to think
positive,
to rejoice and appreciate every good moment of life. Likewise our shared
professional philosophy
constantly takes on
new stylistic
challenges.
In this sense, we are unafraid to search out new ways and means of
expression, always trying new subjects, media, and perspectives - to
keep our work fresh and original.
We believe the same emotion,
challenge and difficulty arise in the painting of an apple,
a human face, or an abstract composition, and with that combined
excitement and pleasure, we could paint anything. Therefore we
cannot limit ourselves to just one artistic style or genre.
To answer the question: “How did you decide to develop different
styles?”: . . it comes from our different predilections and preferences,
but actually we
always work together
– even though our
styles vary: Valery assists Maria to artistically arrange and compose
her Still-Lifes,
just as Maria's opinion is important to the creation of Valery’s
Abstracts …It’s hard
to say where one stops and
the other begins, we work as a team, much like a band creating a
musical composition, we create
our visual – abstract or realistic - compositions."
Although
Valery is an abstract
artist, he has
“always respected
Nature”. He
loves to contemplate the natural beauty of the world around him, to take
time to meditate while studying it, and takes great pleasure from
painting realistically. As he states: “I find non-figurative
abstraction senseless. From the very beginning, in my earlier realistic
work and later, in my abstract paintings, I've always respected
form. That's why I
require objects as images, symbols and signs in my abstract work. I seek
to invent a new
figurativeness, a
separate reality, different from the natural world we see around us. In
this sense I could define some of my work as more
surrealistic than
abstract. I prefer to call my art
Abstract-Surrealism.
To me abstract art is like
music. With
deep feeling I arrange objects and images, colours and shapes into
harmonious, expressive, mood-filled compositions, much the way a
musician composes notes into chords that resonate with our emotions.
As difficult as it may sound,
my aim is
to give visual form to non-visual qualities
such as ideas, feelings and sensations. In fact - my paintings are a
true expression of my
subjective
reality….
I think the artist's
realistic
craftsmanship is
always recognizable
in
his/her abstract
art. When viewing an abstract painting, I can tell if its creator is a
good realistic painter or not. This is because realistic and abstract
art subject to the same steady basic rules and principles...”
Question : What
drives
Maria and Valery Varbanov to create a piece of art ? Answer:
"Our
passion for painting, the
pleasure of playing the game,
and the
delight of creative
discovery."
"THE
INSPIRATION for our
New collaborative Project
"Realistic + Abstract"
comes from Nature. When our son was 3 years old and we walked with him
around the park and into the forest, we were captivated by the intense
curiosity he experienced in response to every object he gathered in his
tiny hands; he impressed us with his fascination for the unique
magnificence of nature’s simple creations. We watched his curious eyes
fill with delight at the exclusive beauty of each of
Mother Nature's treasures.
These observations took us by surprise and made us realize that as
grown-ups, we take Nature, . . for granted, . . with our shoe, we kick
an acorn, leaf, a stone, a follicle or snail or twig, out of the way, .
. because they mean nothing to us as we rush about on our busy
schedules. Yet in the curious eyes of an exploring child, these items
are priceless treasures.
(Old Saying: "one man's trash is another's treasure")
Our son provoked us to STOP, . . and take a look around
through the eyes of a child. He refreshed our joy of discovery inspiring
us to appreciate the delightful beauty and richness of Nature in such a
variety of treasures. Each item is like a tiny universe unto itself just
waiting to be picked up, held, felt and looked at, studied again, . .
with fresh, new eyes !
Our little boy gave us a fresh, youthful outlook on life in general,
which made us feel
good! Our goal
therefore, would be to assist
everyone who takes
the time to view our New Project paintings, to
feel good also. Our
hope is to provoke the viewer's childhood curiosity and restore the
excitement they felt in an erstwhile childhood discovery of some little
object left for them by Mother Nature."
We will rejoice in the contemplation of Nature through
"The Varbanov"
interpretation of Abstract-Realistic paintings. To clarify our intention
from the outset, . . these paintings will most definitely
not resemble a
realistic
illustration or
imitation of nature,
nor will they look like botanical drawings. On the contrary, that is why
"we utilize the power of
Abstract Composition
to influence the viewer via
subjective
reflection of
objective reality".
"Using central, abstract composition, the idea is to
intrigue the viewer, to cause their attention to focus on the simple
beauty of ordinary objects, to convince them that much beauty exists
harmoniously all around us. We aim to capture an eye across the room and
draw it like a magnet to the painting, . . and perhaps a pleasant
surprise.
By
enlarging Mother
Nature's small and simple treasures, perhaps we can trick the eye into
lingering just long enough to catch a glimpse of the
classical beauty that
tends to hide from an otherwise
far-too-busy-world.
We want to persuade our audience to slow down, look around, enjoy the
pleasures of classical beauty and elegant form. Pleasures that await in
ordinary objects and material gifts Mother Nature has left for them in
plain view, . .suggesting there is a mysterious, underlying order, .
even in our chaotic world."
"Thus
far we have completed nine paintings in this
new
series.
However all nine have been done in a smaller size so that we can blow
them up in our projector experimenting to find the
larger, more
appropriate size.
It appears that
(150 / 150 cm,
120 / 250 cm) or
even as
murals
works
well.
We are now searching for a gallery or a customer that would consider
a sponsorship to assist us in realizing these paintings in their
intended size."
" As mentioned above, we compare
OUR CREATIVE PROCESS
to playing-a-game,
. . a game with strong aesthetic
rules and
principles.
For our
Collaborative Work,
people have asked : "How do you work
together on one
piece?" We answer with a joke and say: "We draw a line down the
centre, Maria paints one half and Valery paints the other ha, ha!"
But seriously, . . we tend to involve the
computer more often
now and we create
digital projects
for our paintings. Then we transfer the image to canvas or paper. So, a
lot of our collaborative work is performed on the computer during our
creative process.
Folks also ask: "Who
paints
What
and
Why
?" The answer is: When we transfer the project to canvas (or paper
etc), and get ready to paint, between us, we know who is better at
certain aspects, or which of us actually "enjoys" a task more, so
depending on the painting and the particular task at the moment, is what
decides who gets to do the job. For instance:
Valery is great with
a small brush and fine
details while
Maria
can
wield-a-mean
"airbrush" and does
some fantastic blending. Yet both are very proficient, knowledgeable and
experienced at just about everything. So the word "collaborative" has
true meaning for the
Collaborative portion
of our work.
Getting back to the
Creative Process,
over the years Valery has become very proficient with certain
computer-software for painters, (Corel Photopaint, Painter, and Adobe
Photoshop) which he uses during the creative process. It's not
often that we actually have a
vision of the
completed project prior to starting, unless, as sometimes happens, one
of us has a particular mental picture that we want to record on canvas.
But generally a form or idea will emerge as we work on the
digital project. We
will draw or sketch or even take a number of photos of objects collected
over the years, and study them in various layouts with different
lighting.
Then the game
begins as we insert the results into our
PC,
and with its amazing help, . .we begin to
compose. Adjusting
size, colours and textures, we transform the shapes and volumes while
mixing many layers until time and variation and through an intricate
composing process eventually. . .our
idea emerges!
An amazing thing
the computer! But for
us, it is merely
another art
instrument, like our
brushes and colour palette, but more universal. It allows us a shorter
time to create many diverse compositions and quickly visualize hundreds
of variations of the original image, . . . a mission impossible with
traditional "tools of the trade"! The computer process has saved us
tremendously in time, (all the trial and error of ideas), and material
(all the paper, canvas, pencils and expensive tubes of paint and other
items). The amazing computer allows us to more quickly get to the good
part, . . actually standing before the canvas with a brush full of paint
in your hand!
But before we pick up that brush, . . we must stay with the computer and
choose only the best possible composition to properly convey our idea.
At this stage of the game, we have to select the most unique combination
of all the work just done, something with perfect proportion, rhythm and
balance. During this
discovery process,
our intuition is guided only by our
professional criterion
as we feel our way, seeking to find
order in chaos.
Intuitively we
know
when the project is ready, . . but it's very difficult for us to define
just how we make that decision. We must be absolutely satisfied with the
result, certain that our digital project needs nothing more, . . and
yet, nothing less.
When the project is ready for the next step, . . . we
transfer the image
from the computer screen to the canvas (or paper) which has been
prepared for actual painting. Some folks ask how much we improvise
on the actual painting? Our answer is: "not too much", as 90% of our
creative work is completed during the composition process. Nevertheless,
we strictly abide by our digital image, although there is always room
for some
improvising
while we paint. But any improvisations must not affect the final
painting by altering the computer image."
Maria &Valery Varbanov, 2005
With special thanks to Michael and Joan Silk (Guelph, Ontario, CANADA), for
their assistance in the English edition of this page
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Contact the artists:
mobile: ++359
899 054 206
– Valery Varbanov
++359
896 469 544 –
Maria Varbanova |
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Varbanov - All rights reserved. Design by Valery Varbanov
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