Bulgarian artist Petya Petrova has not lost touch with her country although she has been living for 17 years in the German town of Aachen. On the contrary, each year her love for her country and everything associated with Bulgaria becomes stronger. Petya believes that the more she travels abroad and explores the world, the more she is attracted by the eternal values of her nation.

Petya graduated painting at the St Cyril and St Methodius University in Veliko Tarnovo some 20 years ago. She is part of the generation of the so-called transition period which experienced most painfully the collapse of the social norms of the former regime that were replaced by material values, which do not bring any perspective for Bulgaria’s young generation.

Despite the convenience and the polite attitude the Bulgarian artist receives in Germany she always feels a foreigner in that country and experiences strong nostalgia for her home country. One most wants what is lost, Petya Petrova says and adds:

“When I left my home country I wanted to take something Bulgarian with me. My grandmother was old and decided to give her dowry to her sons. I took with me a woven apron. Sometimes I unfold the apron and enjoy its bright colors. It reminds me of my grandmother and my wonderful childhood spent in our village. Bulgaria is a sunny country and I could not find that bright light anywhere in Germany. That is why I always try to reproduce that light in my paintings. I changed my paining style several years ago when I realized that I was Bulgarian above all and it should be evident in my art. I already painted many paintings, but I cannot sell that many in the city I live now. Some friends, most of whom are foreign nationals, started to show interest in the Bulgarian traditions and culture when looking at my works of art. I tell them a lot about Bulgaria with great pleasure. I always have time to talk about the Bulgarian values, traditions and heritage to those who show real interest. If all Bulgarians who live abroad do the same they will make their lives more meaningful. ”

The direct contact with the foreign cultures makes us more open-minded and tolerant towards other nations, Petya Petrova says. She came to the conclusion that people should maintain their national identity, but at the same time respect those that are different. The Bulgarians should be more open to the world, Petya says. Meanwhile, they should retain their national pride and be more tolerant and open-minded to other cultures. Petya has joined the initiative of Bulgarians living in Western Europe who organize each year a large Horo chain dance at the city square downtown Belgium’s capital Brussels. “We launched that Horo dance several years ago. However, we did that not to show off to foreigners, but to find peace for our own souls”, Petya contends. Moreover, she has been working on a logo of that initiative. The emblem of that event was placed on a special flag which tours different European capitals with the club members. More from Petya Petrova herself:

“Many people already know the emblem of the Bulgarian Horo chain dance. It somehow unites people. I learnt that the same logo was copied on a restaurant menu in Bulgaria, which is a great compliment for me. I always join the Horo chain dance, no matter if I am in Bulgaria for a certain holiday, or in Brussels. However, I feel more emotional when I am in Bulgaria. I noticed that most people who go to Brussels to join the Horo dance are people with refined taste. They are intellectually uplifted people who are interested in the spiritual side of life, rather than in the material side. I had the chance to meet many of them. This allows me to define them as another category Bulgarians living abroad. In fact many foreigners also show enthusiasm and join the Horo dance. This proves that our campaign organized in the EU capital is successful.”

English version: Kostadin Atanasov