Recently, in the Peroto Literature Club in Sofia a unique book by two authors, each a bright representative of their sphere of art, was presented. These are poet Iva Nikolova, who is known as a journalist and translator, and painter Vladimir Penev. Their creative meeting is on the pages of a square book containing 12 poems and 12 pastel paintings. The new art team also presented to visitors twelve collector's editions of the book, containing a verse, written by hand by the author and a drawing by Vladimir Penev that are not included in the other edition. The publishing house and artist Stefan Chuchurliev are those responsible for the design of the book. "12 Squares" has been favourably received by writer and critic Vladimir Zarev, who presented the book.

Iva Nikolova has graduated in poetry at the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute in Moscow. She is talkative and courageous journalist but is very laconic when it comes to her poetry. Here is what she told us:

"I write. That is my job. I am a gloomy person and I link poetry to the sadness of being alive. What I write is a complete contradiction to what people know about me. I have translated over 300 books. This is one of the things that I can talk about for a long time. I do not speak much about poetry as it is something intimate. The man responsible for all this is Vladimir Penev and his magical art." 

Artist Vladimir Penev is the only son of Bulgarian poet Penyo Penev. He has had more than 30 solo exhibitions in Bulgaria and in countries like Germany, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and France. His paintings have been described as poetry in color. Penev speaks with emotion about his cooperation with Iva Nikolova:

"It's easier for me to say what this book isn’t. It is not an almanac of poetry. It is not a songbook. What I painted are not illustrations. There are 12 squares, 12 paintings, and 12 poems. Our meeting with Iva Nikolova is the result of chance. Her sharp poetry impressed me. We spent a lot of time talking about words and when they become verses. I almost jokingly told her she should give me some poems and I would draw them. I liked the poems. The temptation was great and so drew these paintings. This book is a joint one. Each painting is linked to a particular poem. They do not facilitate understanding but show the way I read this poetry.”

English: Alexander Markov