site.btaPleven Hosts First National Exhibition of Two-Year-Old Woodcarvers Association

Pleven is hosting a national woodcarving exhibition. Titled "The Tree and the Chisel", it is the first joint event of the national association Woodcarvers BG and shows works by 12 artists in the field of traditional Bulgarian wood carving, icon and folk wood carving, wood sculpture, exquisite jigsaw work, and miniatures.

"Wood – some use it to make fire, others for construction, but these people use it to create beauty with the chisel, with their hands, eyes, mind, and talent," said the host of the event, Diyan Pavlov, during the opening. He said he was "amazed by the craftsmanship of the carvers" while setting up the exhibition. Pavlov also shared with the audience the history of this art form and Bulgaria's rich heritage in this field.

"What's art and what's craft is for the experts to say. The question of where crafts ends and art begins, and where art ends and craftsmanship begins, is a debatable one. What I see in this exhibition is extraordinary works from these masters," he said.

Pleven Deputy Mayor Elina Dimitrova thanked the woodcarving community for choosing Pleven for their first exhibition. "It is truly a pleasure for us to immerse ourselves in the beauty of everything we see here," she said.

Woodcarvers BG was established two years ago and already has 27 members.