ARTRIOTI — The Faces We Remember
A portrait of Yordan Yovkov — one of the great storytellers of Bulgarian literature, known for his deeply human characters and his quiet, compassionate way of writing about suffering, hope and dignity.
The quote „Боже, колко мъка има по тоя свят, боже!“ comes from his short story „По жицата“, where it is spoken by Mokanin in the final scene.
This original illustration is part of ARTRIOTI — my illustrated archive of the writers, artists, actors and musicians who left a lasting mark on Bulgarian culture.
WHY I DREW HIM
I drew Йордан Йовков because there is extraordinary tenderness in the way he writes about ordinary people.
„Боже, колко мъка има по тоя свят, боже!“
In „По жицата“, those words carry the weight of another person’s suffering. They are not only about sadness, but about empathy — that deeply human moment when someone else’s pain becomes impossible to ignore.
Yovkov’s world can be quiet and simple, yet it says something essential about compassion, hope and the need to remain human even when there is very little we can do.
That is why I wanted him to be part of ARTRIOTI.
I draw them so we don’t forget them.
THE PIECE
Original illustration by Svetlomira Minkova, created in Sofia as part of the ARTRIOTI series.
A piece of Bulgarian literary memory — made to be worn, remembered and passed on.
Bulgarian culture, drawn to be remembered.
