My meeting with Constantine Manasses

Through the open windows I could hear the tit singing in the garden of the wonderful library (at the Centre for Slavic and Byzantine Studies “Ivan Duichev” located in a quiet street in Sofia). It was early summer, linden trees in bloom, sun catching their aroma brought inside by the wind. Quite charmed by all this, I began reading the latest translation of the Manasses Chronicle in Modern Bulgarian language.
This Chronicle was written in the 12th century by Constantine Manasses as a gift for the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos but was popular also in the medieval Bulgarian Kingdom. It tells various events from the beginning of the world to the reign of emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates.
My attention was caught by the beginning of the Chronicle – the six days of Creation. The wise Manasses depicted the new-born world not just in detail but also in a poetic and subtle manner. The Garden World was a “bride in a golden-thread dress”, everything was filled with bird songs, with the sweet tree leaves rustling, with “beauty and delight for the eyes”.
Then the Sun appeared – “the home of fire”, the stars – “flowers in the fields” and the “white colored” Moon… The sixth day started “glowing as a red rose”, the tree of knowledge grew. “And a gentle breeze was blowing everywhere, filling the air with the scent of infinite variety of beautiful flowers.”
I read the text often and every time the garden becomes more complete and better understandable for me. I can hear the sounds, I can feel the aroma of the flowers and the taste of the fruits, I can see the colors and forms described by the author and they become my inspiration, a challenge for me. Constantine Manasses wrote this chronicle not just for Emperor Komnenos, but also for me! The first 9 chapters in it – with the wonderful Garden World there – are intended for me, and the historical facts – for the emperor.
Thank you dear Constantine Manasses, for this gift, for meeting you at the library, no matter I am now here in Sofia, and you were then there, in Constantinople. I would never “see” such perfect beauty without you… Now I just have to paint it!
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In my recent exhibitions and curator projects I have searched for the way back to the harmonious coexistence of human and nature. My greatest inspiration in this respect comes from medieval art and literature – of Western Europe, of Byzantium and of the Far East. I have tried to recreate a paradise garden despite the present horrific ecological picture (or, perhaps, just because of it).
In my last curator project is in cooperation with the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds, our National Museum of Natural History, and our National Library and Ivan Dujčev Centre for Slavic and Byzantine Studies. It is called They Lost Their Paradise and will include ancient sculptures of animals and birds, medieval miniatures presenting the flora and fauna and modern authors interested in the nature of Bulgaria. The exhibition will open on September 20 at the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia.

A member of the Union of the Bulgarian Artists.
A member of the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds.

Curator projects and personal exhibitions related to ecology:

2013 "Garden of the Sun, in which I keep the birds" - Sofiapress Galery

2012 The Tree of Life
VIVACOM Art Hall, Sofia /Curator project/


2012 A Garden in the Garden
University Botanic Garden, Sofia


2011 Music in the Forest
National Museum of Natural History, Sofia /Curator project/


2011 In the Beginning, Sofia /Curator project/


2008 The Gardens of King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Art Gallery Varna


2008 The Garden of Inspiration II
University Botanic Garden, Sofia


2007 The Garden of Inspiration II
University Botanic Garden, Sofia
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