Yoanna Hristova, Who Likes Drawing and Translating Poetry
16 September 2024
from the City Magazine · September 14, 2024
Yoanna Hristova is among the most active students at Varna Free University. In addition to her love of illustrating poetry, she also translates poetry. This is a short talk about where her path as an artist is taking her.
Yoanna Hristova, a student at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar":
Yoanna Hristova is a 4th year student, majoring in Graphic Design. She is the chairperson of the Art and Design Club "Eclectika" at the Student Council of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". She graduated from IV Language School "Frédéric Joliot-Curie" in Varna with a French language profile. Although she focused on visual arts, she also excelled in the field of translation. In 2023, she became third in the VIII translation competition "Transformations", organized by the Faculty of Lnguages at VTU "St. St. Cyril and Methodius". She participated with a translation from French of a work by Anatole France. This year she won first prize again with a translation of his work - "The Garden of Epicure" (Le Jardin d'Épicure). Yoanna already has a solo exhibition and has illustrated several collections of poems. In Varna, one can often meet her at exhibitions and at events in which VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" takes part.
– You illustrate poetry books. Which was the first one?
– While still in high school, I illustrated 'My soul is searching for the universe" by Yonko Yonkov, and later another collection of his poems. The second book was "Silent Moon" by Petya Hantova. Now I am working on a new project, a collection of poems by Ivaylo Terziyski. I love reading poetry because it offers a different view for the mind and soul. It contains abstraction, not things to be taken literally.
– Is this the reason for your interest in translating poetry?
– I am grateful that I graduated from high school where foreign languages are taught, because it greatly enriches the culture and your attitude towards other cultures
– Do you prefer black and white speech because of poetry?
– I use felt-tip pens to draw. It makes it more interesting for me to draw. It's not that I don't like working with colors, there are many possibilities, but when you paint in black and white, the interesting thing is that you only have one color and many shades. This, in my opinion, should not be underestimated as a means of expression.
– Why did you choose Graphic Design?
– To be honest, I wanted to study Interior Design, but the moment I saw that illustration was also taught in Graphic Design, I decided to enroll. I have an affinity for illustration, but that alone is not enough. Graphic design gives a wide field of expression. I am glad that I chose this university because it turned out to be a very good environment. I really feel at home here.
– What are the responsibilities of a student who is part of the Student Council?
– I signed up for the art club at the Student Council, because the colleague who created it, Yana Stoyanova, graduated. Now I am the chairperson. It is very pleasant because the atmosphere is created by the people, there is a balance between work and what is done for pleasure. The idea of the art club is to be a small society of people who have an interest in applied and fine arts. We all decide together what we will do, for example photography, hands-on workshops. Last year we organized a March charity bazaar for the first time.
– Do you have a favorite artist?
– They are a lot of artists I like. Marc Chagall, for example. My very favorite illustrator is Mikhail Vrubel with his illustrations of Lermontov's Demon. It is stunning because of the wonderful balance between decorativeness, the contrast, the different plans, the light is subdued but sensual.
– Would you go for children's books illustrations?
– Illustration for children is a difficult task. I've thought about that. There are different approaches. Some prefer a more modernist approach, I'm a fan of a more classic way of drawing, more retro, but these drawings are more exquisite to me. Other illustrations are more abstract, it is interesting that children are predisposed from a young age to perceive abstract ideas in such a subtle way. It is a very responsible task to form the artistic vision of children.
Yoanna Hristova is among the most active students at Varna Free University. In addition to her love of illustrating poetry, she also translates poetry. This is a short talk about where her path as an artist is taking her.
Yoanna Hristova, a student at VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar":
Yoanna Hristova is a 4th year student, majoring in Graphic Design. She is the chairperson of the Art and Design Club "Eclectika" at the Student Council of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar". She graduated from IV Language School "Frédéric Joliot-Curie" in Varna with a French language profile. Although she focused on visual arts, she also excelled in the field of translation. In 2023, she became third in the VIII translation competition "Transformations", organized by the Faculty of Lnguages at VTU "St. St. Cyril and Methodius". She participated with a translation from French of a work by Anatole France. This year she won first prize again with a translation of his work - "The Garden of Epicure" (Le Jardin d'Épicure). Yoanna already has a solo exhibition and has illustrated several collections of poems. In Varna, one can often meet her at exhibitions and at events in which VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar" takes part.
– You illustrate poetry books. Which was the first one?
– While still in high school, I illustrated 'My soul is searching for the universe" by Yonko Yonkov, and later another collection of his poems. The second book was "Silent Moon" by Petya Hantova. Now I am working on a new project, a collection of poems by Ivaylo Terziyski. I love reading poetry because it offers a different view for the mind and soul. It contains abstraction, not things to be taken literally.
– Is this the reason for your interest in translating poetry?
– I am grateful that I graduated from high school where foreign languages are taught, because it greatly enriches the culture and your attitude towards other cultures
– Do you prefer black and white speech because of poetry?
– I use felt-tip pens to draw. It makes it more interesting for me to draw. It's not that I don't like working with colors, there are many possibilities, but when you paint in black and white, the interesting thing is that you only have one color and many shades. This, in my opinion, should not be underestimated as a means of expression.
– Why did you choose Graphic Design?
– To be honest, I wanted to study Interior Design, but the moment I saw that illustration was also taught in Graphic Design, I decided to enroll. I have an affinity for illustration, but that alone is not enough. Graphic design gives a wide field of expression. I am glad that I chose this university because it turned out to be a very good environment. I really feel at home here.
– What are the responsibilities of a student who is part of the Student Council?
– I signed up for the art club at the Student Council, because the colleague who created it, Yana Stoyanova, graduated. Now I am the chairperson. It is very pleasant because the atmosphere is created by the people, there is a balance between work and what is done for pleasure. The idea of the art club is to be a small society of people who have an interest in applied and fine arts. We all decide together what we will do, for example photography, hands-on workshops. Last year we organized a March charity bazaar for the first time.
– Do you have a favorite artist?
– They are a lot of artists I like. Marc Chagall, for example. My very favorite illustrator is Mikhail Vrubel with his illustrations of Lermontov's Demon. It is stunning because of the wonderful balance between decorativeness, the contrast, the different plans, the light is subdued but sensual.
– Would you go for children's books illustrations?
– Illustration for children is a difficult task. I've thought about that. There are different approaches. Some prefer a more modernist approach, I'm a fan of a more classic way of drawing, more retro, but these drawings are more exquisite to me. Other illustrations are more abstract, it is interesting that children are predisposed from a young age to perceive abstract ideas in such a subtle way. It is a very responsible task to form the artistic vision of children.