SILVIA KARAMFILOVA

The “POET” is part of the “De Personeae” (Personalities) cycle of paintings aiming to arrive at my own interpretation of images of personalities representing various cultures and symbolic ideas. Some of these existed, others – did not, still others represent collective images. However, all hold a significant place in history. No matter how their images reappear in the light of the present, their essence and meaning, as, well as the myths and legends surrounding them, they are still overshadowed by the darkness of the passing times. It is interesting to try to “call” some of them to “our” time and see what messages they carry, especially in the present turbulent times we find ourselves in.

The purpose of poetry is manifold – to help us to discover and explore the deeper meaning of human connections, to assist us in understanding better ourselves and how we relate to our environment. Poetry does not give us straight answers or encyclopedic facts, it gives us something new or something old in a way which will lead to an amazing discovery or change our thought paradigms.

Usually poets have the uneasy task of navigating through the multitude of symbols surrounding us and facilitating the passage of ideas. For some, poetry provides an escape from everyday grayness. For others, poetry is utilized to gather and unite people towards a shared, common aim. For still others – to seek their truths. For yet others – to discover beauty and detail in subtle things. There are also those who enjoy the fluidity, rhythm and versatility of poetic language and sound.

Poetry suggests to us to care, grow, develop, adapt, overcome, nurture, protect, foster, cherish. It invites us to laugh, reflect, cry, strive, persevere, rejoice. Basically, poetry makes us more human.

In a way, poets are also chroniclers of their times. The most important message they bring to us is to keep MEMORY alive because… nothing should be forgotten.

In his book “The Banquet in Blitva” (1938), the Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža asked through one of his protagonists “…in the end, what do we have left after so many disappointments, so many lost battles, so many trampled hopes and so many triumphs of infamy and turpitude?” The answer…“A box filled with letters made of lead which isn’t a lot…but it is our only weapon until present day that has been invented by people to defend HUMAN DIGNITY.”

In the painting, you see intricate decorative elements creating the illusion that the old, web-like, cover of history has been cast over the image, thus giving it an air of otherworldliness. Yet, the eyes of the poet are sharply focused towards our times… and many new stories are yet to be recounted. The Poet’s Muse usually accompanying him is the STAR guiding him (do you see it?). The laurel wreath on his head symbolizes fame and victory.

Here are the words of a poet written so many years ago which seem to relate so well to our present day…

Новый год – это новое счастье.
Новый год – это тоже весна.
Это, может быть, Ваше участье,
Ваша роза в бокале вина.
Новый год – это голос метели.
Это ночь, что должна быть светла.
Это, может быть, праздник без цели.
Это – знак, что уходят года.
Павел Антокольский (1916 г.)

The New year – this is new happiness.
The New year – this is Spring too.
Perhaps, this is your participation,
Your rose in the glass of wine.
The New year – this is snowstorm’s voice.
This is the night which has to be bright.
This is probably a holiday without aim.
This is a sign that the years are passing by.
Pavel Antokolsky (1916)