“Paris – the magic fairytale” is an exhibition bringing together works by renowned artists Milena Yoic and Anne de Colbert – Christophorov. The exposition opened recently at the Bulgarian National Assembly MP Club on the initiative of Tatyana Bouroudjieva, chair of the Bulgaria-France friendship group. The exhibition came about after long years of friendship between the two ladies in Paris. Wife of an MP and daughter-in-law to prominent Bulgarian Agrarian Party leader Georgi Traikov (1947-1975), Milena Yoic’s life is inextricably bound with parliament. “To my mind it represents Sofia,” she says. Before settling in Paris, she worked for a time as stage designer at the Sofia Opera House as well as at most of the theatres in the capital city, but recognition came to her in Paris. Her works have been on display at the Louvre and the Paris City Hall, up on the Eiffel tower; they have traveled the world and are part of private collections. And even though she has been living and working in France for more than 20 years, the artist continually finds inspiration in Bulgaria. Because the country, as she puts it, has a rich history, whereas Bulgarians have a rich fantasy. So, she feels it is only natural to make use of the Bulgarian spiritual symbols in her paintings.

“Being Christian is important to me. It is something that transports us back in time, it is a gift we cannot turn our backs on. Faith ennobles me, enriches my inner world and I truly feel a connection with it.” Talking about Anne she says: “She is one of a kind. A remarkable lady – an artiste. Being a painter sets you apart from other people. We singled each other out and became very close friends.”

Anne de Colbert – Christophorov, heir to Count de Colbert, whose monument rises in front of French parliament, describes her encounter with Milena as something that happens notwithstanding boundaries, the language barrier or the alphabet:

“It is a dialogue between Milena and me. Take a look at her works – they whisper in your ear. Her paintings have insight, philosophical contemplation of beauty, of quality. Her style of painting is highlighted by a fine precision and are an expression of her remarkable inner world. With me it is the other way around – my paintings are pointed to the outer world. I paint houses from all over the globe, there is no specific reference to Bulgaria, France, Spain or Finland. These are the houses of the world in all of their colours – black, white, yellow, red, green…the hues of the world. This is what makes this exhibition remarkable – there is no confrontation here, only dialogue. I am like a snail, carrying my home on my back. I hoist my pictures onto my back and I travel the world.”

English version: Milena Daynova