An exhibition by Ivan Tafrov

Painting

9 November – 9 December 2017

Vernissage: 9 November 2017, 7 p.m.

San Stefano Gallery presents “A different reality”, a retrospective exhibition depicting the artistic path of the artist Ivan Tafrov over the last twenty years. Over 20 canvas paintings – portrayal paintings with which he had participated in international competitions, small and large landscape and still life paintings, masterfully executed with the trompe l'oeil technique- a technique which creates optical illusion – bring joy to connoisseurs and collectors. .

In his landscapes Tafrov transforms every state of nature in a harmonious picture with a clearly expressed emotional background- luxuriant summer greenery of an abandoned Italian village or a cold autumn morning at Vitosha Mountain, gather all the ingredients of natural unity. In Tafrov’s paintings every touch of the brush is a significant manifestation of his unique style, covering the canvas as naturally as the autumn leaves fall off the trees, while the precise work with the tip of the brush pours life and emotional colour into his works. The portraits fascinate with their honesty and high extent of completion, carrying the inner world of their protagonist.

The task to create an image of the world in the form of life itself is perfectly carried out by the painter, and there is nothing left for the spectator, but moving into “A different reality”.

The painter Ivan Tafrov

In his early childhood years Ivan Tafrov demonstrated his painting talent, went to an art school and later studied painting in the class of prof. Valentin Kolev in the National Academy of Art. There he completed building his skills and won two student competitions- one for a self-portrait and one for a naked body drawing. In 2001 he made his first solo exhibition in The National Gallery for Foreign Art, for which he received enthusiastic reviews by art critics, including the critic Ruen Ruenov. In an article by Stefan Kisyov the work of Tafrov is described as “magnificent – carefully planned and perfectly executed”

2006 was the year, in which Ivan Tafrov gained distinction on the international art scene- he managed to finish in the top 100 of ARC Salon (one of the most prestigious world competitions for realism) with the portrait of his favorite grandmother Spasina – an achievement which attracted the attention of the European critic to his incredibly realistic portrait painting.

A year later, in the popular National Portrait Gallery in London under the patronage of British Petroleum an exhibition of portrait painters from all over the world was opened, among which was “A portrait of Denitza” by Ivan Tafrov, chosen by a competent international jury.

In 2009, 2014 and 2017 he was invited to show his own paintings and attend a gala evening at the National Portrait Gallery, whose patron is the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.