Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Spring on the Threshold of Summer exhibition painted pottery by Zlata Zlatkova

БНР Новини

Smart ceramic lamps, embossed cups and saucers and sophisticated porcelain jewels painted manually are on display at the first one-artist exhibition of Zlata Zlatkova at Lampion Art Gallery in Sofia.

Снимка

The exhibition is dedicated to nature which has been an incessant source of inspiration for me. I adore nature, I adore observing it and I often find ideas for my art in it. In this particular case flowers are my dominant theme,” the young woman says presenting her exhibition Spring on the Threshold of Summer. She has a major in social pedagogy and psychology but ceramic art has become her passion.

Снимка

The moment I encountered clay there was the chemistry. It found me. I left my heart in it. Clay is a curious material – it is fascinating once you come to know about its specifics. It has character. Sometimes it doesn’t want to listen and sometimes it does. And at times its behavior depends on the mood of the artist.”

Снимка

One of the first artefacts that Zlata made seven years ago was a small wall vase for dried flowers. Since then her talented fingers have beenmodelling diverse beautiful objects. The sets of cups and saucers though very beautiful are also functional and suitable for daily use.

Снимка

“They are made of highly embossed porcelain and are then painted with the water-color technique directly on clay,” explains Zlata. “The effect is of a real flower resting on the saucer. This effect is rare, because very often in ceramics the opposite technique is used a low relief hewn inside the object. Making high relief takes much longer time but it looks more realistic.”

Снимка

The refined jewel pieces shown at the exhibition are also made of porcelain.

“Porcelain is different from clay, and is more tricky and harder to model.” Zlata Zlatkova explains. One has to work quickly and with precision with it as it dries very quickly. This requires a very good plan in the artist’s head. Often as I sit down to work with clay, I have no exact idea what I want to do, while with porcelain it is a lot different story. I have to have a clear idea not to waste time.”

Снимка

After that porcelain is baked at high temperature – 1000 C, in a special furnace. On the baked material the image is painted and is covered with transparent glazing. “This is one of the finest points because the image would blur if you breathe heavily on it,” Zlata Zlatkova gets into the subtleties of the craft. “Therefore the porcelain is very tricky. It is challenging but there is a way to tackle its fussy character. Depending on the complexity of the painted image a bracelet takes 7 to 8 hours to make, and a pair of earrings – from 30 min. to 2 hours.”

Снимка

Are there new ideas which Zlata Zlatkova has not yet made into artefacts?

“I am full of ideas but there is not enough time to carry them out. I would be happy if a day had 48 hours, as I would be able to work more. I hope that creativity in me lasts longer,” concludes the artist.

English Daniela Konstantinova

Photos: Dessislava Semkovska and Vladimir Kaludiev




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Mariana Dimova and her survachkas.

Mulled wine, survachkas and Ferris wheel - the spirit of Christmas in Sofia

Who said Bulgarians were grumpy pessimists? Take a stroll through Sofia's Christmas bazaars and meet the cheerful crowd. The festive decorations, music, merry-go-rounds and stalls overflowing with treats and handmade souvenirs can make the gloomiest..

published on 12/3/24 2:19 PM
The Bogdan Khmelnitsky State Pedagogical University in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol

Melitopol University hosts online conference uniting scholars of Bulgarian studies

Bulgarian studies are highly valued at the Bogdan Khmelnitsky State Pedagogical University in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol. So it comes as no surprise that the university is hosting the latest edition of the International Bulgarian Studies Readings,..

published on 12/2/24 5:35 PM

Bulgarians in Albania need state support in order to preserve their national identity

"You say you are Bulgarian, but you do not know Bulgarian" – this reproach from officials in Bulgaria has been faced by quite a few by our compatriots from the historical Bulgarian communities around the world. One of them is Bledar Alterziu from..

published on 12/2/24 4:05 PM