Bulgarians like to say that the month of March is like a woman – because of its ever changing meteorological “moods”. Of course, there’s March 1 - Baba Marta (Granny Marta), and the International Women's Day on March 8, that add to the point of March being “women’s” month. In this sense, the emphasis on the poetic beauty of women and on their resilience in the difficult times in which we live is quite understandable… in March. The exhibition "8 Men for March 8", which can be seen until the end of the month in The House of Sofia’s gallery halls, is dedicated to women as muses, and shows unforgettable images of the eternal woman, reimagined as an explosion of colors, a stylized figure or an abstract sculpture in which the masculine and feminine principles are intertwined.

Young artist Kostadin Jikov shows a cycle of life-size paintings of contemporary women, clad in traditional embroidered shirts and gowns. His works are both exquisite and moving, and the artist seems to be encouraging the visitor to look deeper into the illusory and changeable world in search for intransient truths.

Woman is a great mystery to me - as a man, but especially as a painter and an artist, Kostadin Jikov says.

"In this cycle I have combined the aesthetics of the Renaissance with that of Bulgarian folkloredecorative art - the embroideries, the rugs. Renaissance is characterized by anatomical drawing and plastic image building through elaborate color palette adding in as many subtle nuances as possible. While our folk aesthetics is based on the opposite principle: powerful expression of the decorative, combined with stylization of the image, sometimes to the extent of signs and symbols. In folk motifs we use bold combinations of bright colours. This is exactly what I seek - a combination of the two extremes - the Renaissance concept of the imitation of nature and Bulgarian folklore aesthetic - decorative, but also very colourful, evocative and attractive.

These are real life models, girls who can be recognised in the paintings. I choose the models by gut feeling. Sometimes I start to paint a model but the painting is no good. Inspiration is a guiding force, it determines everything in a painting."

Vladimir Dimitrov - the Master - was a very strong influence on him. "But it is very difficult to compare yourself with such a colossus as the Master, because he is unsurpassed in fine art," the artist claims.

"I can't match him in the slightest, but I have a genuine love for his personality. Over the years that influence has kind of come naturally. It has manifested itself in my work, but I've always tried to be myself first and foremost. Some days I take a walk in the countryside, immerse myself in nature and the landscapes find me. I love the scenery of the Rhodopes, my roots are there. Many of my landscape paintings are from Kovachevitsa, Leshten, Dolen.

I am drawn to views that are slightly nostalgic, but most of all timeless. Such timelessness can be seen in Bulgarian villages - they are a true vision of the cozy and simple life of ordinary people who have preserved the old ways of living together and helping each other. In the city we have forgotten the meaning of togetherness, everyone is a lone wolf. The ego stands out, and it is not a good advisor to a person."

Art can be a refuge, a salvation from the harsh reality, especially during such hard times, believes Kostadin Zhikov.

"Recently I came across an interesting thought by the spiritual teacher Master Peter Deunov about war - he lived during World War II. He said that when there is war in the world, we are all responsible for it. The war is first within us. It means that if we have even a petty feud, it is recorded in the collective world of psyche, which is hidden behind matter, where it accumulates only to erupt at a neuralgic point.Yet even in crisis, humanity cannot live without pictures, music, books, poetry. Our soul needs art, no matter how many difficult moments we go through. Art is what will preserve us."

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

English version: Elizabeth Radkova