Expressive painting representation, clear intensity and energetic paste-like spreads of color or distinctive plasticity are the charac- teristic features of Lyube Petrov's painting technique. A wide scale of means of expression foreshadows the semantic diversity of fantastic stories, hidden in grotesque pieces that are filled with sarcasm, comical aesthetics, hyperboles and humor but also deeper thoughts about the relationship between people and the nature, which lead to apocalyptic endings.

In his creative development Bulgarian painter Lyube Petrov has come upon the topics that are tightly connected with the cycle of life and death. In his pieces he combines traditions, symbols and elements of Eastern and Western culture on the field of motives from the history of art comprising Christian iconography, mytho- logical motives, but also abstract topics inspired by sci-fi literature and film. With his work he voices his ironic comment on the current state of civilization, which he calls the "Apocalypsari- um", i.e. the beginning of the end and through this he directly calls for the breaking points of human existence. That is why he makes such an enormous effort to capture the moment. With the author's own words, the apocalypse is ever-present, never stopping so constantly moving and in the process it mutates. The characters are caught up in somewhat of a trance, left alone in the world, sucked in by a natural catastrophe - apocalypse - whilst the story stays a mystery for the spectators; it could only be guessed and increases the excitement from an unfinished story.

The stopping of the deciding moment is covered in a magical aura,

however the content of the pieces has a deep mental foundation and gives evidence of philosophical maturity of the young author.

Bulgarian painter Lyube Petrov (*1984) majored in wall painting in 2007 in an art academy in Sofia. His studies concentrated mainly on mastering the technique and craft in the spirit of realism. Petrov still concentrates on the composition and a well thought formal structure in his traditional figural motives. From his birth country of Bulgaria he has brought the influences of Bojan Dobrev, Ivo Bistričký or Georgi Andonov. After moving to the Czech Repub- lic he studied Fine Arts in Martin Maier's studio and finished in 2011.

Because of the global connection between the society, culture and the tradition, the author looks at the topics from two different angles. He combines the traditional features with links to phenomena of the current consumer society (comics, films) and with the help of this ironic mythology he creates a whole new reality or rather appreciates his cultural heritage. Playfully and entertainingly he connects the past with the present and with his artistic imagination he puts in front of us a vision of the future or perhaps a mysterious space of timelessness?

Lyube Petrov explores not only the inexhaustibility of the canvas but also the purpose of human existence through the bizarre characters, who demonstrate the power of thought of a being facing the apocalypse. The figures become the superheroes of our future.

 

more about Lyube Petrov >