Venera Konstantinova
...Is the only artist in Bulgaria that combines the techniques of stained glass and painting. “Each technique has its means of expression. As philosopher Hegel once wrote, the spirit takes various forms via different arts. The form that I use has been provoked by the crisis – mostly in the sector of construction where the classical stained glass technique finds its applications”, Venera Konstantinova told Radio Bulgaria reporter Tatiana Obretenova. The artist has authored a few monumental frescoes, mosaics, Gobelin tapestries and stained glass works. Most of them explore Orthodox Christian themes and can be seen at the Vratsa and Vidin bishoprics, Northwestern Bulgaria. In her latest exhibition the artist displays compositions with churches and monasteries and lovely nature sights from the villages of Shiroka Laka, Leshten and Kovachevitsa in the Rhodope Mountains and from the town of Balchik on the Northern Black Sea coast. More...Less...
Venera Konstantinova’s landscapes from the Rhodope Mountains, and especially from the village lof Shiroka Laka glow with the generous colors of nature and with the lovely shapes of Bulgarian folk music instruments. “I simply adore Bulgarian mountains”, the artist goes on to say. “I have mounted two exhibitions with works from the Rhodope Mountains. I love painting the unmistakable winding ridges of Rila and Pirin. What is new in my work this year is linked to a more musical approach employing colors. Art is great for being a play of imagination. This time I was very impressed with the signs of the Bulgarian identity that I saw in villages and nature sites. As an artist I have never been intrigued by present-day architecture. In fact I love to paint churches and monasteries, especially small remote ones linked to the faith of the average people. Pompous things do not attract me. Small scale is what I prefer, and this makes me so much attached to places like Shiroka Laka and Koprivshtitsa.” Tatiana Obretenova, bnr.bg, translated by Daniela Konstantinova.
Venera Konstantinova graduated in 1978 from the Academy of Fine Arts, Prof. M. Ganovski's class in ''Mural painting''. 1978-1981 Chief artist of the town of Vratza. One-man-show exhibition ''The window... the apple'', Shipka 6-Gallery, in 1999. 2000 won the competition for Cite des' Arts, Paris. She won 2006 the prize ''Public forum arts'' at the First national exhibition, Sofia. One-man-show exhibitions in Sofia, Netherlands, Germany, Japan and others. Venera Konstantinova works in the fields of stained glass, frescoes and oil paintings. Many of her art works appear in private houses and collections in Bulgaria, Japan, Canada, USA, Germany, Italy, France, England, Austria and other countries. She lives and works in Sofia.
