Bronze Statue, Size: 15 × 61 × 11 cm

Inspired by a historical figure from the 13th century, Ivan Minekov’s “Desislava” might be the perfect representation of the closeness of medieval and modern abstraction. Its reduced forms are reminiscent of an orthodox icon and certainly inspired by the frescoes of the Boyana Church in Sofia. At the same time, the form is abstract, extracting only the poise and elegance of Desislava to the surface. This embodiment of female grace on a small scale can also be seen as an homage to both the historical heroine and the artist’s wife, an icon painter.