With an incredible talent inherent to great artists, Loretta Velkova has been recreating traditional Chiprovtsi carpet motifs in a new way, combining them with modern art. The hand-woven rugs, carpets, pillows and objects not only shine in the typical colors of the Chiprovtsi rugs, but contain the artist’s love woven into them.

“I was born in Chiprovtsi and grew up alongside my mother's weaving loom. Iwas watching her weaving carpets, and it all stuck in my mind,” Loretta Velkova remembers. "At a much later stage, I decided to make something that is related to the Chiprovtsi carpet because it brings messages. The carpet is magic, a fairy tale that many people cannot read. This is not a simple rug; it is a valuable and mystical object. It all comes from the motifs and symbols that are part of it.”

One of the most commonly used symbols is called "kanatitsa". It is very ancient and represents a stylized butterfly. It protects against evil forces and brings good luck and prosperity. In the past, when men went to work abroad, women made special rugs to protect them so they can return healthy and with good profit.

“It is now harder for a person to take a carpet with them, so that small patches with symbols can be made forprotection,” Loreta Velkova explains. “Another symbol is the bird, representing spiritual purity, freedom, good news."

"The sun symbol, which is a carrier of harmony, power, energy, is called a ‘kola’.

Carpets often contain a motif called ’makaz.’ It consists of two triangles facing one another, representing the female and male beginnings. When more triangles are attached to the top and bottom, it represents the growth of a family.

The ‘karachka’ symbol is believed to be the symbol of the goddess of fertility. There are many symbols, whose meaning has been forgotten over the years, but the basic ones are well-known and preserved.”

The technology, which Loreta Velkova has been using for over 20 years, is ancient. She uses a vertical loom and natural materials.

“I have always liked art. Taking traditional Bulgarian motifs and recreating them in a modern way so that they can find a place in every modern home is the way I express myself. To create a work, one needs a clear idea of ​​what they want to achieve. It is necessary to master the weaving technique to perfection. Being able to draw is also important, because artistic weaving is basically drawing with threads and yarns,” Loretta Velkova says.

The masterpieces of Loretta Velkova can be seen at the Chiprovtsi Carpet Festival, which takes place April 27 and April 28. During these two days, guests of Chiprovtsi can learn everything about the carpet, as well as try to create something to remember. And here is Loretta Velkova’s message, conveyed trough her works, which contain not only her imagination but also a part of her soul:

“We must preserve the tradition and transfer it to the next generations. Let's take the foundation of tradition and use it various ways, so that it can reach the younger generations and modern homes. We should not lose our identity, but preserve Bulgarian heritage, so that we can survive as a nation and state.”

English: Alexander Markov