Borislav Dimitrov’ Fine Art PortfolioBorislav Dimitrov’ Fine Art Portfolio

PyrograffitiPyrograffiti on on Cultural Phenomenology ofCultural Phenomenology of LiteratureLiterature

Fine art works pyrography on paperFine art works pyrography on paper

http://www.behance.net/borisarthttp://www.behance.net/borisart

www.borislav.comuv.com/art.htmlwww.borislav.comuv.com/art.html..

"Our eyes demand their turn" James Joyce, Finnegans Wake (FW 52)

““The medium is the message”The medium is the message” - Marshall - Marshall McLuhanMcLuhan

My name is Borislav Dimitrov and I My name is Borislav Dimitrov and I amam aa lawyer and artist.lawyer and artist.

My specific appreciation of art and avocation asMy specific appreciation of art and avocation as v visual artist isual artist is based on my interests in literatureis based on my interests in literature and philosophy. My and philosophy. My works are conceptual art exploringworks are conceptual art exploring the interaction between the interaction between image and text, simultaneousimage and text, simultaneous nature of communication as nature of communication as perception of qualiaperception of qualia moments and experience.moments and experience.

I am interested in I am interested in the interpretation of the visual language the interpretation of the visual language and contemporary reads of artifacts of consciousness and and contemporary reads of artifacts of consciousness and myths of my heritage produced the series of engravings as myths of my heritage produced the series of engravings as Thrace FabulousThrace Fabulous (Thracian Orphism), the series (Thracian Orphism), the series Epic of Epic of GilgameshGilgamesh, the series , the series The Legend of the GolemThe Legend of the Golem. . The influence for other series comes from contemporary The influence for other series comes from contemporary content as works of Marshal McLuhan, cubist poetry of content as works of Marshal McLuhan, cubist poetry of Kenneth Rexroth and the art of Norman McLaren (seriesKenneth Rexroth and the art of Norman McLaren (series AnastomosisAnastomosis), the deconstructivist though of Jacques Derrida ), the deconstructivist though of Jacques Derrida and the architects as Bernard Tshumi and Louis Khan, the and the architects as Bernard Tshumi and Louis Khan, the hypertext novel hypertext novel HopscotchHopscotch of Julio Cortasar.       of Julio Cortasar.      

My most recent project is based on James Joyce’s novels My most recent project is based on James Joyce’s novels Finnegans WakeFinnegans Wake ((Icon O Graphing “Finnegans Wake”Icon O Graphing “Finnegans Wake”) and ) and UlyssesUlysses ( (Little Engraving Review On Little Engraving Review On James Joyce’ novel “Ulysses”James Joyce’ novel “Ulysses”). ).

Having longstanding interest and work in progress’ pleasure and experience of Having longstanding interest and work in progress’ pleasure and experience of reading and researching Joyce, between the unmentionable trivialities routine I reading and researching Joyce, between the unmentionable trivialities routine I have completed a cycle of engravings and oil paintings on the Wake.have completed a cycle of engravings and oil paintings on the Wake.

Icon o graphing in visual fable James JoyceIcon o graphing in visual fable James Joyce’’ novel novel Finnegans Wake comes to Finnegans Wake comes to share love and passionshare love and passion extracted from the core of an Joycecentric universeextracted from the core of an Joycecentric universe and and explore the Wake as experience of the eye on theexplore the Wake as experience of the eye on the mindís ear. Iconography of mindís ear. Iconography of the sound of FW comes tothe sound of FW comes to impulse the brotherhood of Earweakers (Joyceimpulse the brotherhood of Earweakers (Joyce’’ hero hero HCEHCE as Here Comes Everybody) into the journey of theas Here Comes Everybody) into the journey of the Eyeweakers and Eyeweakers and James Joyce as the great EyeweakerJames Joyce as the great Eyeweaker itself. Visualizing Joyce's Meander Tale itself. Visualizing Joyce's Meander Tale FW my artisticFW my artistic attempt is to translate his portmanteau words asattempt is to translate his portmanteau words as portmanteau portmanteau images, to envisage polyphonic phrasingimages, to envisage polyphonic phrasing and represent the visual assonance of and represent the visual assonance of FW echolalia, toFW echolalia, to explore the iconography of double-talk, infixes,explore the iconography of double-talk, infixes, auditory auditory rhymes as qualia of the "messes of mottage"rhymes as qualia of the "messes of mottage" (FW 183). Following Joyceí (FW 183). Following Joyceí suggestion to read FW asuggestion to read FW a laud (coded in his text „Ope Eustace tube!” (FWlaud (coded in his text „Ope Eustace tube!” (FW 535-535-26) is my mission to find the Eustace tube of the26) is my mission to find the Eustace tube of the eye and eye and ““listenlisten”” the image of the image of the sound.the sound.I would appreciate a brief review on my I would appreciate a brief review on my art works devoted to the Joyce’ novel at art works devoted to the Joyce’ novel at http://http://www.borislav.comuv.com/FW.htmlwww.borislav.comuv.com/FW.html . .

You could find my You could find my "Icon O Graphing Finnegans Wake""Icon O Graphing Finnegans Wake" listed under Finnegans listed under Finnegans Wake article in Wikipedia Web as visual fable based on James Joyce’s novel Wake article in Wikipedia Web as visual fable based on James Joyce’s novel "Finnegans Wake" by Toronto artist Boris Dimitrov. The project is lited under "Finnegans Wake" by Toronto artist Boris Dimitrov. The project is lited under the Bulgarian version of James Joyce article at Wikipedia - the Bulgarian version of James Joyce article at Wikipedia - Борислав ДимитровБорислав Димитров: : ИконИкон-о--о-графияграфия на "Бдение на на "Бдение на ФинеганФинеган"",, The drawing The drawing as semiotic reading - as semiotic reading - Рисуването като семиотично четене ...Проектът „Икон-Рисуването като семиотично четене ...Проектът „Икон-о-графия на Бдение над Финеган” e визуална басня върху произведението о-графия на Бдение над Финеган” e визуална басня върху произведението на Джеймс Джойс „Бдение над Финеган”, представена от един по-читател на Джеймс Джойс „Бдение над Финеган”, представена от един по-читател на Джойс.на Джойс.Arte, filosofía, creación. Un búlgaro en Toronto. ¡Imprescindible! Arte, filosofía, creación. Un búlgaro en Toronto. ¡Imprescindible! - - "Icon O Graphing Finnegans Wake" commented by the Spanish magazine for "Icon O Graphing Finnegans Wake" commented by the Spanish magazine for Literature and Art LUKE (Literature and Art LUKE (http://www.espacioluke.com/http://www.espacioluke.com/) – "Tablon de anuncios": ) – "Tablon de anuncios": El blog imprescindibleEl blog imprescindible Miércoles 2 de Marzo de 2005 - Arte, filosofía, creación. Miércoles 2 de Marzo de 2005 - Arte, filosofía, creación. Un búlgaro en Toronto. ¡Imprescindible!Un búlgaro en Toronto. ¡Imprescindible!

Boutique Exhibition of Fine Art Engravings - Visual Fable On James Joyce's Boutique Exhibition of Fine Art Engravings - Visual Fable On James Joyce's novel "Finnegans Wake" - March 21, 2005 - by Toronto’s resident artist Boris novel "Finnegans Wake" - March 21, 2005 - by Toronto’s resident artist Boris Dimitrov, Timothy’s, 801 Bay Street, Toronto, Just On Bay and College! James Dimitrov, Timothy’s, 801 Bay Street, Toronto, Just On Bay and College! James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake on BayJoyce’s Finnegans Wake on Bay

The project “The project “The Epic of GilgameshThe Epic of Gilgamesh” is ” is inspired by inspired by the book of William Irwin the book of William Irwin Thompson – “Thompson – “Coming into BeingComing into Being - - Artefacts and Texts in Relation to Artefacts and Texts in Relation to ConsciousnessConsciousness”. ”.

William Irwin Thompson is William Irwin Thompson is a a social philosophersocial philosopher, cultural historian and , cultural historian and cultural criticcultural critic, professor of , professor of humanitieshumanities at the at the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology and then at and then at York UniversityYork University in in TorontoToronto. . W.I. Thompson made significant contributions to W.I. Thompson made significant contributions to cultural historycultural history, , social criticismsocial criticism, the , the philosophy of sciencephilosophy of science, and the study of , and the study of mythmyth. He describes his writing and . He describes his writing and speaking style as "mind-speaking style as "mind-jazzjazz on ancient texts". I this sense my art works are an on ancient texts". I this sense my art works are an attempt for “eye mind – jazz on attempt for “eye mind – jazz on Cultural Phenomenology ofCultural Phenomenology of LiteratureLiterature”. ”. ThompsonThompson moved to Canada, teaching at Toronto's York University from 1967-moved to Canada, teaching at Toronto's York University from 1967-

1973. While there he was exposed to the work of such thinkers as Canadian1973. While there he was exposed to the work of such thinkers as Canadian media theorist Herbert Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980), author of The media theorist Herbert Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980), author of The Mechanical Bride (1951), The Gutenberg Galaxy (1967) and Understanding Mechanical Bride (1951), The Gutenberg Galaxy (1967) and Understanding Media (1971)Media (1971). . Thompson considers fellow Irishman Thompson considers fellow Irishman James JoyceJames Joyce's 's novelnovel Finnegans WakeFinnegans Wake to be "the ultimate novel, indeed, the ultimate book," and also to be "the ultimate novel, indeed, the ultimate book," and also to be the climactic artistic work of the modern period and of the rational to be the climactic artistic work of the modern period and of the rational mentality. Thompson engages a diverse set of traditions, including the mentality. Thompson engages a diverse set of traditions, including the complex systemscomplex systems thought of thought of Ralph AbrahamRalph Abraham, and the novels of , and the novels of Thomas PynchonThomas Pynchon..

Cultural Phenomenology ofCultural Phenomenology of LiteratureLiterature

W.I. Thompson and theW.I. Thompson and the mathematician mathematician Ralph AbrahamRalph Abraham designed a new type of designed a new type of cultural history curriculum based on their theories about the evolution of cultural history curriculum based on their theories about the evolution of consciousness. consciousness. W.I. Thompson W.I. Thompson developed a theory thatdeveloped a theory that there were five there were five archetypal literary and mathematical mentalities in cultural history from thearchetypal literary and mathematical mentalities in cultural history from the Ice Ice Age to the present. These mentalities are based upon a configuration, in which Age to the present. These mentalities are based upon a configuration, in which objectsobjects are articulated in a constructed space, and a configuration of time, a are articulated in a constructed space, and a configuration of time, a narrative, in whichnarrative, in which identities are unfolded. The former is a world, the latter, a identities are unfolded. The former is a world, the latter, a self.self.

The Arithmetic (Ancient)The Arithmetic (Ancient) - - The Geometric (Classical)The Geometric (Classical) - - The Algebraic (Medieval)The Algebraic (Medieval) - - The Galilean Dynamical (Modern)The Galilean Dynamical (Modern) - - The Complex Dynamical (Contemporary)The Complex Dynamical (Contemporary)

The Literary Milestones of the Arithmetic MentalityThe Literary Milestones of the Arithmetic Mentality are are - - Formative: Sumerian, Formative: Sumerian, “Inanna’s Transfer of the Arts of Civilization from Eridu to Erech”“Inanna’s Transfer of the Arts of Civilization from Eridu to Erech” ThThee work work shows the archetypal and generative power of the listshows the archetypal and generative power of the list; ; Dominant: “Inanna’s Dominant: “Inanna’s Descent into the Netherworld.” This work shows the cultural shiftDescent into the Netherworld.” This work shows the cultural shift from village from village agriculture to the city-state in which a priestly class develops astronomy as aagriculture to the city-state in which a priestly class develops astronomy as a mythopoeic system of knowledgemythopoeic system of knowledge; ; Climactic: TheClimactic: The Gilgamesh Cycle, both the Gilgamesh Cycle, both the Sumerian cycle, and the Akkadian epic.Sumerian cycle, and the Akkadian epic.

The Gilgamesh epicThe Gilgamesh epic shows the war of the sexes and the tension between shows the war of the sexes and the tension between matristic systems of prehistoric authority and charismatic military leadership matristic systems of prehistoric authority and charismatic military leadership with its newwith its new heroic system of values.heroic system of values.

The Literary Milestones of the Galilean Dynamical MentalityThe Literary Milestones of the Galilean Dynamical Mentality are are

- - Formative: Lazarillo de Tormes, Cervantes’s Don Quixote, Descartes’s Formative: Lazarillo de Tormes, Cervantes’s Don Quixote, Descartes’s Discourse on Method.Discourse on Method. The picaresque narrative celebrates the new non-heroic The picaresque narrative celebrates the new non-heroic individualism of the common man,individualism of the common man, and shows life as a process of learning a and shows life as a process of learning a new science and wisdom through trial and errornew science and wisdom through trial and error; ; - - Dominant: Faust Dominant: Faust with with all versions as performances of the European myth. all versions as performances of the European myth. Faust shows manFaust shows man challenging sacerdotal authority to gain power over nature, challenging sacerdotal authority to gain power over nature, which is the dominant scientificwhich is the dominant scientific myth of modernism. Melville’s Moby-Dick goes myth of modernism. Melville’s Moby-Dick goes back to the Gilgameshback to the Gilgamesh epic in its vision ofepic in its vision of male bonding and slaying the beast male bonding and slaying the beast of natureof nature; ; - - ClimacticClimactic:: James Joyce’s Ulysses is a conscious recapitulation of literary James Joyce’s Ulysses is a conscious recapitulation of literary history, from thehistory, from the Homeric epic to the modern novel, and a brilliant performance Homeric epic to the modern novel, and a brilliant performance of the shift from the linearof the shift from the linear narrative of a single hero to the complex dynamical narrative of a single hero to the complex dynamical system of an ecology of consciousness –system of an ecology of consciousness – a movement that he completes with a movement that he completes with Finnegans Wake.Finnegans Wake.

TThe Complex Dynamical Mentality arises in Paris in 1889 with Poincaréhe Complex Dynamical Mentality arises in Paris in 1889 with Poincaré..

Artist StatementArtist Statement

The source of my artistic influence is literature and philosophy discourse. The source of my artistic influence is literature and philosophy discourse. Drawing is like semiotic reading. According to the social semiotic theory of Drawing is like semiotic reading. According to the social semiotic theory of representation, the grammar of visual design is like the linguistic structures, representation, the grammar of visual design is like the linguistic structures, visual structures point to particular interpretations of experience and forms of visual structures point to particular interpretations of experience and forms of social interaction. Color is a semiotic resource. The text is not exclusively black social interaction. Color is a semiotic resource. The text is not exclusively black and white anymore or situated in linearly configured blocks. The colors, shapes, and white anymore or situated in linearly configured blocks. The colors, shapes, sizes, fonts, and positions of letters and words on Web sites, environmental sizes, fonts, and positions of letters and words on Web sites, environmental signs, magazines, and textbooks reflect our changing society, creating images signs, magazines, and textbooks reflect our changing society, creating images that did not exist 20 years ago. Computers and other technology have changed that did not exist 20 years ago. Computers and other technology have changed our concepts of time and space, and they have altered the way that we our concepts of time and space, and they have altered the way that we participate in many activities (Gee, 2003). With the increased amount of visual participate in many activities (Gee, 2003). With the increased amount of visual information, semiotics researchers have emphasized that communication is information, semiotics researchers have emphasized that communication is multimodal; people are reading not only written words, but also images.multimodal; people are reading not only written words, but also images.

Relevant Education:Relevant Education:

Open Studio, 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 104, Toronto, Ontario - Open Studio, 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 104, Toronto, Ontario - Etching class of Prof. Pawel Zablocki and printmaking workshops (2004) Etching class of Prof. Pawel Zablocki and printmaking workshops (2004)

National School of Art, Photography and Printing, Sofia, Bulgaria, Professional National School of Art, Photography and Printing, Sofia, Bulgaria, Professional qualification and diploma in Etching (1977-1981) qualification and diploma in Etching (1977-1981)

Art Show and Exhibition: Art Show and Exhibition:

Solo and group exhibition in Europe and North America, works are represented Solo and group exhibition in Europe and North America, works are represented in private and corporate collections. in private and corporate collections.