Saint George by BOZKO / IG: @b.o.z.k.o
URBAN CREATURES 2020
Photos:
Vladimir Gruev FREAX / IG: @flowadelyx
Location: Bulgaria, Sofia, 6 Triaditsa Str.
More about the project: Audio reportage by Lora Tarkoleva – Bulgarian National Radio
The English translation of the reportage by Lora Tarkoleva can be found below the photos.
A Story from the Yellow Cobblestones Told on Fishing Stools and a Paint Bucket
“Street Art Icon” – the Latest Project by Urban Creatures
Published on 09.11.2020 at 10:15
Photo: Urban Creatures
🎧 Report by Lora Turcholeva for the show “Before Everyone”
From today, Sofia has a brand new artistic addition. Right next to the turbulent “Triangle of Power,” on one of the side streets – Triaditsa Street – the image of Saint George before his battle with the dragon now rises. The mural, described by some as a street art icon, is the latest project by Urban Creatures, marking their tenth anniversary. While the figures were still emerging under the hand of Bozhidar Simeonov – Bozko – we managed to meet with some of the people behind this new mural jewel in the city.
A story from the yellow cobblestones, told on three fishing stools and a bucket of paint, with rich bait for your imagination – heroes, pigeons, a bottle of poison, a lot of paint, and a hearse – but don’t be afraid.
If you walk from Dondukov Boulevard to the exact address, Triaditsa 6, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with the wall. It emerges amidst administrative and residential buildings, shops, cafés, close to the tram line, under the watchful gaze of two beautiful sculptures preserved atop an old Sofia house. The stone neighbors appeal to the artist Bozko, with whom we speak while his work is still cloaked in dark hues. Both in process and metaphor, the image builds from darkness toward light:
“That’s the great struggle.”
But it can never truly be resolved.
“That’s why Saint George is an old man.”
Watching this elder, you won’t know whether he’s about to attack the dragon or not:
“This battle has no end. I’m not even sure that if good ever wins, that would still be good. There is no final outcome in existence.”
Bozhidar aims to draw closer to canonical visual art. Not only does the subject lend itself to this, but his education pushes him in that direction:
“I graduated in mural painting and studied iconography. If someone gets to know my work, they’ll always find some form of iconographic stylistics in it.”
Why does Saint George appear in the center of Sofia now, and why on this street in particular? Bozhidar calls the location “pretentious.” Urban Creatures battled for it for three years:
“There were a lot of obstacles to make it happen.”
For Bozhidar, the past year was turbulent and filled with doubt about the future of civilization:
“There are stresses on many levels. Social and health upheavals. A difficult year.”
So should we look for hope and solace in Bozhidar’s image? Especially if the bottle of poison stuck in our throat isn’t moving forward or back?
“I’m not trying to brighten anyone’s life, nor to darken it. I’m creating something that’s the result of a palette of sensations within me.”
“Bozhidar works with the subconscious of every person who sees the piece. He taps into their entire life experience. The moment of seeing the wall is just the trigger that gives shape to those experiences. I’ve heard over 100 different interpretations – from ‘Putin’s back’ to ‘Why didn’t you paint daisies?’ and other absurdities. But they’re only absurd to me – to those people, these are their truths,” adds Yasen Geshev, founder of the Urban Creatures urban art platform.
The project’s photographer, Vladimir Gruev – FREAX – calls himself a professional observer. He’s impressed by how calmly the team handles difficulties. In two weeks, he captures emotions distilled from three years. He seeks out the best angles, even if he has to dig between two trash bins. When he lifts his eyes and lens, he sees:
“So much effort and time. Looking at how huge the whole thing is, I can’t wrap my head around how someone can have so much patience to craft every detail with such precision.”
And since besides being a photographer, Vladi is also a dancer, he senses movement in the mural in front of him:
“That shiny, quirky dragon makes the whole thing even more captivating.”
He also observes how passersby react in this busy area. He’s seen many jaws drop:
“That’s the reaction almost every time. Everyone is positively amazed.”
“90% of people are thrilled this is happening here. What makes me happiest is that the neighbors really appreciate it. They’re the ones who’ll live with this wall the longest, and that really means something to me,” says Yasen. We ask Vladimir if perhaps the positive reactions stem from the image being of a saint. For him, Urban Creatures demonstrated a very specific quality:
“They have the courage to create an icon as street art.”
For Vladimir, the combination works. And it’s even been approved by clergy, because – as Yasen has learned over the past ten years:
“Everyone sees the city as their own. There are all kinds of people. It’s good to consult with senior clergy to receive their blessing. It was really important – after their blessing, the project finally moved forward. Before that, it had stalled for three years. I see something symbolic in all this.”
And the obstacles were no small thing – not just to paint Saint George, but to paint anything at all at Triaditsa 6.
In this sense, the street art figure of Saint George also protects his creators. The finished mural will include augmented reality, accessible via your phone. If you’re on-site and follow the instructions, an app will let you hear music when you photograph the mural. The depth of perception is ensured by Veselin Mitev.
“The wall carries music, but we had to figure out what that music is.”
American Lucas Floras has lived in Bulgaria for years and came across the mural on his way to the park:
“You can’t miss it.”
Lucas doesn’t need a specific context to interpret it, nor does he know that just meters away is the late antique rotunda of Saint George from the early 4th century – the oldest preserved building in Sofia. He admits he’s not particularly religious and doesn’t claim deep knowledge of biblical stories, but he knows:
“The stories are symbolic – you have to find meaning in them anyway. Good versus evil is a very two-dimensional interpretation. You can go beyond it. And when you do, you have to look within yourself.”
That’s the thought that struck Lucas the first time he saw Bozhidar’s work:
“To see the dragons in our own lives – the things we’re uncomfortable confronting. And it’s important to do so. A dragon can be something you’re afraid to say for fear of offending someone, your struggle for position in life, or your battle with yourself. And it’s so fitting this happened this year, when we have to face many new things and look deep within. The pandemic made everything very clear. Life won’t always be comfortable. Now we have something new to reflect on – how to move forward.”
Lucas believes anyone can face their fears if they choose to. He thinks what he sees is beautiful and should be highly valued:
“I really like the image. To me, Saint George’s back is like a shield absorbing the pressure of the world, as he moves toward the evil dragon.”
He feels like he should change his life for the better. He defines himself as a street art enthusiast and sees great passion and dedication in the artists working in central Sofia.
That same passion was present in the artist originally meant to paint the wall…
The late Robert Proch – muralist and animator – passed away at just 33, but he left a profound mark on the graffiti world far beyond his native Poland. And since radio sometimes works small magic – meet Robert in a 2016 recording for his exhibition “Crossing the Line” in a gallery in Rome.
In the interview, Robert shares that working in public space always places the artist in a specific context – one they must fit into, including all the randomness that may occur. Street projects are more open, he believed. He will be fondly remembered by art lovers – check out his stunning works online. And here’s what he had planned for Sofia:
“Robert was going to paint a falling man,” says Yasen.
Could Saint George be a falling man?
“To me, Saint George is an old man, twisted from all the contortions he’s seen in life, but who has kept his will and strength, and now somewhat routinely approaches the next battle – which he knows he’ll win again.” And then Yasen suddenly comes up with interpretation No. 102, as he jokingly calls it:
“Why is he seen from the back – when canon says he shouldn’t be? Because we are behind him. He’s leading the people.”
Whether you see in Saint George a general, an elder, a Shiva-like figure, a fallen or victorious man, a cause for humility and prayer or a call to battle and self-reflection – the choice is yours.
Make it by seeing the street art icon and listening to the full report in the audio file.
