Interview: speaks Lubomir Nikolov, Chairman of the ex libris Bulgarian Society
by Giancarlo Nicoli
Nikolov: "We want to help the gifted young artists flourish".
Dear reader,
this just-passed year has seen a major revival of ex libris activity in Bulgaria.
Following my own sense of curiosity, I asked an interview with Mr. Lubomir Nikolov, chairman of
the new Bulgarian Society.
I'm also particularly proud to display two wonderful ex libris made by Marin Gruev -
whose Opus List is going to appear on the 'Artifex' site as well.
Question: What's the purpose of your society?
Answer: To establish long term contacts with similar organizations, to help our members
and artists get in touch with collectors, and promote the developement of ex libris traditions
in Bulgaria.
Q. Who are the "Founding Fathers" of the Bulgarian Society?
A. Mr Nikolov (okay, it's me) and Mr Karamfiljan, in collaboration with Mr. Armand
Basmadjian, who in turn was a "founding father" of the 'Association of Exlibris Friends' in
Bulgaria (1979). We established the IEC-Sofia last year (2002).
Mr. Lubomir Nikolov is a collector of art and businessman; Mr. Onnik Karanfilian is a well known
Bulgarian artist and bookplate collector; Mr. Armand Basmadjian, who served as president of
AEFB, is a collector, philologist and graphic designer.
Q. May I know something more about you, Mr. Nikolov?
A. My name is Lubomir Nikolov, I was born on 10th January 1951 in Sofia. I attendend the
French college and got an MA-Economist graduation. It's 20 years I have painting as a hobby;
I'm married and I have two children - a daughter graduating in an University in England and a son,
who is studying 11th grade American College. I'm Chairman and CEO of Agrobiotrading-Sofia,
official representative of Ag. DuPont de Nemour and several other multinational companies. I
like to collect paintings, plastic art, graphics. I'm actually Chairman of The International
Exlibris Center, here in Sofia.
Q. Does the Society have a bulletin?
A. Yes, of course. Its name is simply "Exlibris". We send it to every member, there are 4
issues per year.
We publish works on the world history of ex libris (each number has an article on this subject) -
the presentation of different Bulgarian artists, the presentation of a foreign guest artist as
well, and articles on different subjects relating to the ex libris and other events from the
Bulgarian ex libris life.
Q. Does the Society have an Internet site?
A. Yes, it has. It's here.
The content is the same, we are expanding it with galleries of Bulgarian ex libris artists.
There are several outstanding works, I believe our site is worth a visit.
Q. How to become a member?
A. It's easy to become a member of IEC-Sofia: just fill in the application form!
Please visit our Internet site or write to us (click here). Membership fee
is 24 euro and it includes the subscription to the Bulletin.
Q. If you could present a Bulgarian artist, still relatively unknown, to the world, whom
would you choose?
A. Mr. Marin Gruev, born in 1963 in Plovdiv. He attended the MFA National Academy of Fine
Arts, in Sofia, in the class of Prof. Chuklev. His specialties include traditional deep printing,
especially dry point, and mezzotint and etching as well. He is able to get an extremely fine
and precious quality of printing. We are proud to let you show two of his works.
A. In my opinion, there is a 'boom' of talents and gifted artists in this part of the world and in this field. I believe that it is not possible to anyone - who values talented work - to disregard it. Why does this talent happen? I cannot find an answer, probably levels of life and security are related to levels of emerging of this gift!!
In my opinion, the gap between the western world and east europe is a matter mainly of communications: it is a pity it occurs in this our time, just when communication is so easy; it is a pity to suffer because of a lack of it.
Q. What's your main goal, as a Chairman?
A. I would like to add only that the reason I decided to come into this venture is to help as much as I can the gifted young artists.
Q. Thank you very much, Mr. Nikolov.
A. Thank you, Giancarlo.
Giancarlo Nicoli
