SILVAbiography

Artist
Statement
I use painting as a medium to translate impressions, emotions, and memories
into a visual format. The big significance in my work is my love to museum
quality artworks especially the decorative arts from around the world and the
art history. By manipulating formal and symbolic elements, the artwork
becomes a magical layering of antiquity and modernism that transcends time.
The techniques involved are based on superimposition of several layers of
painting. About acrylic/oils - the raised areas are got from the basic layer with
acrylic colors, the next paint layer is only with oil colors. I strive for images
with an aura of antiquity. I use a original own technique for my watercolors
which I found out and reached after many work and experiments. Firstly I
make the embossing drawing through the printing presse, after that I paint on
with the watercolors and draw with a pen. This is complicated multilayer
method however almost nothing isn`t planned. I think all the unexpected
results are a provocation for my imagination. That`s why I have worked with
watercolors for 15 years. I`m confident of the infinite possibilities and
resources of this neglected expressive medium.
Silva Bachvarova



		*ArtfromBulgaria.com***

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Silva Bachvarova Resume/Biography 1953 Born-Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 1973 Graduate High School of Fine Arts, Sofia.Bulgaria 1980 Graduate of Scenography at The National Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia,Bulgaria. Master degree of Stage design. Scenography at The National Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria. Master degree of Stage design. 1985 Specialisation "The visual theatre", Institute International de la Marionnette in Charleville - Mezieres, France. 1980 Stage designer at the State Puppet Theatre - Plovdiv. Bulgaria 1997 Stage designer at the State Puppet Theatre - Plovdiv. Bulgaria 1992 Professor of Stage design at the National Academy of Theatre & Film Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria 1994 Professor of Stage design at the National Academy of Theatre & Film Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria 1999 Professor of painting in the Academy of Fine arts, Sofia, Bulgaria 1997 Stage designer at the Theatre ATELIE 313 , Sofia, Bulgaria 2000 Stage designer at the Theatre ATELIE 313 , Sofia, Bulgaria 2000 Stage designer at the State Puppet Theatre - Burgas, Bulgaria Member of: (1)Union of the Bulgarian Artists (2)UNIMA /Union International de la Marionnette/ 14 personal exhibitions of painting: 1982 -"Graphic Art Base” – Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1994 -"Balabanov House” - Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1994 -"Art Form Gallery” - Haskovo, Bulgaria 1995 -"Sofia Kamburova Gallery” - Sofia, Bulgaria 1995 -"Palace Gallery” - Varna, Bulgaria 1995 -"Bulgarian Culture Center” - Praha, Czech republic 1995 -"Union of the Bulgarian Artists Gallery” - Sliven, Bulgaria 1995 -"Galerie am Flur” - Magdeburg, Germany 1998 - Gjumlik, Norway 1999 -"Galleri Amico Art’ - Honefoss, Norway 1999 - Lillehammer , Norway 2002 -"Yuka Gallery’ – Varna, Bulgaria 2002 -"Vladislavov Gallery” – Plovdiv, Bulgaria 2003 -"Bogoridi Gallery” – Burgas, Bulgaria 40 participations in International Exhibitions in Europe,USA,Cuba,Japan 70 illustrated books, posters and cartoons. Author of the scenography of over 100 puppet productions in Bulgaria and abroad . (Europe,Mexico etc).Her name is associated with productions popular both at home . and world-wide -"Don Quixote", "Puk","Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs" etc. Recipient of many awards: 1984 The Golden Dolphin Award for scenography, Varna, Bulgaria 1999 The Golden Dolphin Award for scenography, Varna, Bulgaria 2002 The Golden Dolphin Award for scenography, Varna, Bulgaria 2000 The Pierrot award for scenography, Bulgaria 2001 The Pierrot award for scenography, Bulgaria Awards from the National Reviews of Puppetry, Bulgaria 1998 For scenography from The International Festival of The Puppet Theatres, Praha,Czech Republic 2000 For scenography from The International Festival of The Puppet Theatres, Praha,Czech Republic 2002 For scenography from The International Festival of The Puppet Theatres, Praha,Czech Republic 2001 For scenography from The International Festival of The Puppet Theatres, Subotitza, Serbia 1998 The Special Award from The Cartoon Exhibition, Skopje, Macedonia

	Art Review The artwork of Silva is strange not only of their aesthetic unusual character but of a their spirit - original and not typical of our train and sensitivity. The people are hidden behind of masks and the objects behind of their new meanings. However all is marked with one unbridled element, with one bright contemporary baroque. The special carnivality of the way of looking at things of Silva gives a mysteriousness to her works. She kneads together this wild madness called Carnival and forms it from whimsicality, grotesque and fantasy. Her wonderful and strange creatures are not only beautiful. On the road of their own transformation they have attained a magical significance, sensation of an intimacy with the spirits world. The artwork of Silva is attack in the stereotype space of our senses and feelings, balance on the edge between a theatre and life, reality and magic, fine and decorative art. This is fruitful approach because the divine spirit is too great to be closed into one creation. Maria Vassileva, art critic and curator of "City Art Gallery"Sofia-Bulgaria

	Art Review The body of work that you have provided for review is comprehensive and clearly defined in conceptual content and visual presentation. The abstract paintings challenge a familiar perspective and invite for a new way of looking at the world around us. All of the work reveals an abstract and gestural narrative that is unique in structure, color and emotional nuance. Angela De Bello Director Agora Art Gallery New York City