At the premiere, Zari (as his friends call him) will showcase his seascapes and launch a charity campaign in support of the NCAC "We Hear You" Association to aid artists with hearing impairments.
On January 28, 2025 (Tuesday), at 6:30 PM, in the conference hall of the Regional Library "Peyo K. Yavorov," the premiere of two new books by Burgas-based marine artist Svetozar Arnaudov – Zari, titled "The Journeys of an Artist" will take place. The event is organized with the assistance of the National Center for Alternative Communication (NCAC) "We Hear You."
Svetozar Arnaudov (b. 1963), one of the most realistic contemporary Bulgarian marine artists, often referred to as the "Bulgarian Aivazovsky," has an engineering background and many years of experience as a sailing instructor. He discovered the magic of fine art only eight years ago and is now a highly successful artist whose works focus predominantly on the sea. This is not only because he lives in Burgas but also because he is the captain of a small sailing yacht called "La Ola" (Spanish for "The Wave"). Over the past five years, Svetozar has conducted cruise voyages with various crews across the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, the Aegean, and the Ionian Seas.
His first book, "The Journeys of an Artist" (2021), marked the beginning of a series of sea travelogues styled as "ship logs." His second book, "The Sea Within Me" (2022), is a compilation of his seascapes and poetry inspired by them, written by poet Tsvetelina Stefanova. The two new books, both titled "The Journeys of an Artist" (2025), feature short stories from the artist’s voyages during the 2023 and 2024 summer seasons. The humorous experiences with various crews are interwoven with informative descriptions of the visited places and landmarks.
"I’ve always loved the sea, which inspired me to start painting it. I rarely deviate from this theme. I never thought I’d write, but when I began sharing my travelogues on social media, readers' interest encouraged me to continue. Everyone wants to travel and have fun. That’s missing for many people, and I write only about such things, effortlessly transporting readers into my world," Arnaudov shares about his books.
The editor is Hristina Choparova, a journalist with extensive experience in print and online media, founder of the specialized website for people with hearing loss, "We Hear You," and chair of the eponymous association. The design of all the artist’s books is by Valentina Yotova, a university lecturer and poet.
During the premiere, Svetozar Arnaudov – Zari will present several of his latest oil-on-canvas seascapes and will also conduct a charity fundraising campaign for the NCAC "We Hear You" to support artists with hearing impairments.
The next presentation of "The Journeys of an Artist" will be in Sofia on February 6, 2025, at the Literary Club "Peroto" (NDK). The author has also received invitations to present his books in Pernik (February 7, "Marin Gogev" Gallery), Varna (February 25, Art Salon of BNR), Veliko Tarnovo, and Blagoevgrad.
