The Mosaic Panel in Velingrad

The Mosaic Panel in Velingrad – Part of Bulgarian Monumental Art

Many of us certainly walk through the center of Velingrad daily, passing by one of the city’s symbols.

The mosaic panel at the building of the new Municipality in Velingrad is one of the best-preserved works of monumental art in Bulgaria. It was created by artists Stoyan Kuyumdzhiev and Metodi Peshunov, who worked under extremely difficult conditions. In an interview from 2010, Metodi Peshunov shared that it rained continuously during the creation, yet they managed to complete the work.

Creating the Mosaic Panel

The production of the mosaic was commissioned by the party leadership of Velingrad, headed by Mihail Alexiev. Although the panel includes the symbol of the red star, the artists managed to avoid purely party motifs and focused on the national idea, which remains relevant today.

Among the masters who worked on the panel was Vladimir Nikolov – one of Bulgaria’s specialists in monumental mosaics. He recalls that most of the work was done by hand. Local stones from the Lepenitsa quarry were used for the mosaic. The team executing the project was part of the Monumental Art Combine in Plovdiv, an institution whose artists have created mosaics in various parts of the country.

The Mosaic in Velingrad – Part of Bulgarian Tradition

Vladimir Nikolov has extensive experience in creating monumental mosaics. He participated in making the mosaic covering in the National Palace of Culture, in the ceiling of the opera house, in the former “Plama” factory in Pleven, as well as in the ossuary of Botev’s chetniks in Skravena. Among his most significant projects is the dome mosaic of the Buzludzha Monument – one of the most impressive works of monumental art in Bulgaria.

According to him, Bulgaria had a world-recognized practice in mosaic making, with techniques among the best in the world. Particularly valuable are the Buzludzha mosaics, covering over 2,000 sq. m. and including specially thick glass cast in a furnace in the Czech Republic, which was later destroyed. Today, only fragments of this unique technique remain.

Preserving Monumental Art

Vladimir Nikolov expresses his concern over the state of the Buzludzha Monument, which has already been recognized as part of the world’s cultural heritage but still requires serious restoration. For him, this monument is not a symbol of one party but a work of the entire nation, created through the efforts of thousands. He recalls the legacy of artist and philosopher Nikolai Roerich, who emphasized that art monuments must be preserved even during war.

Unlike many other monumental works, the panel in Velingrad is among the best-preserved examples of this type of art in Bulgaria.

Vladimir Nikolov is currently working on an album dedicated to monumental ceramics, which will include the mosaic on the Velingrad Municipality building.

In this way, he aims to promote and preserve the traditions of mosaic art, which continue to impress with their beauty and complexity, regardless of time and circumstances.