The famous Millennium Foundation organized in Holland some time ago a contest, subjected 1001 Reasons to Love the Earth. 32,000 artists from across the globe joined it then. The award was only one and won by Bulgarian artist Keazim Isinov. This fact is not very popular in this country. Art expert Associate Prof. Boris Danailov recalls it at the unveiling of Isinov’s exhibition with the National Palace of Culture due to his 75^th anniversary. The exposition is part of the Salon of Galleries at the NPC. What is the place of Keazim Isinov in our art – that was what we asked Associate Prof. Danailov:

“I think this is an untypical artist with personal style that cannot be compared to anyone else and so his importance grows from this point of view. He is a somehow lonely and underestimated phenomenon,” the art expert points out. “This should be changed as the man is a significant artist with interesting and bright art results with no other author close to him in terms of style – or at least I can’t think of anyone. He has a huge diapason, regarding his themes and plots.”

Keazim Isinov paints compositions, portraits, landscapes, Biblical and folklore plots, still lives, nudes, small plastics, sculptures. His plots are taken from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the modern epoch – practically anything. “His range is really large from this point of view and his significance should be underlined in this relation,” Boris Danailov underlines.

According to him the artist goes into his chosen direction with no inclinations, stating his personal style with no compromise and showing persistence. His message however is very curious and the result of this comprehensiveness, as it is both intimate and humane. “Keazim is neither a primitivist, nor naivist, it’s the contrary rather. He is an author who has the intellectual depth and courage to think over those directions of art and turn them into his main weapon. Thus his expression becomes direct and honest,” Boris Danailov resumes.

The exhibition of Keazim Isinov is named Human, Earth, Space.

“One can see the Space in a flower, in a tree or even in a stone. That aspect exists in my art. There will be a flower, a stone, a tree in almost each painting, as I am really attracted to those things. Nature is my main inspiration, the trees, what surrounds me. People don’t give me that inspiration anymore, with few exceptions. There are people who deserve attention, but the past gives me more energy, my childhood experiences – the stories and legends I have heard. We had no TV then, we had gas lamps, but people had respect for each other. My art comes as a result of these memories…”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev