6th International ExLibris Competition Varna 2025 Conditions of Participation
In 2014, the Largo Art Gallery founded the International ExLibris Competition Varna. Starting in 2023, the co-organizer of the forum will be the Jordan Petkov Art Foundation. The competition is held every two years and is held every two years. Its aim is to popularize graphic art and graphic techniques in Bulgaria and around the world, and in particular to promote the value and qualities of small graphic forms, and more precisely book plates, as an expression of the elegance, beauty and creative power of works of art.
What is ex-libris and what is the history of its creation?
Ex-libris is a miniature graphic. The name literally means “from books…” or “from the library…” It comes from the Latin phrase “ex libris”, which means. At the beginning of their creation, the first ex-libris works were an engraved or printed mark printed on the inside of the cover of the book, which served to clearly identify its owner. In the past, ex-libris were ordered by owners of luxury bibliophile editions and large collections of books. Mandatory elements of such small graphics are the text “ex libris”, the name or initials of the person or institution from which the work was created, and a graphic image, which is mostly related to his/her personality, interests, or characteristics. Due to the nature of its original purpose – to be placed in books, the size of the ex-libris work is usually 7/5 cm, 10/10 cm, or something else at the discretion of the artist, but rarely exceeds 20/20 cm. This is where the complex tasks that confront artists working in this field of miniature art come in. Creatives, limited by size, by the characteristic features of the person to whom the ex-libris will be dedicated, must fulfill certain requirements and at the same time be able to express their creative ideas, find and weave the optimal font in which the writing stands slightly and gracefully and harmoniously fits into the drawing of the work.
Therefore, only extremely good artists, master painters, artists with a fine sense of detail and a developed psychology, and a rich imagination can work in the field of bookplates. In the middle of the 20th century, the so-called “collector” ex-libris studies became popular. They no longer serve to designate the owner of the book, but are ordered by passionate ex-libris collectors who trade them among themselves.
- Organizer: From its foundation in 2014 until 2022, the organizer of the International Ex-libris Competition Varna was “Largo Art” Ltd., the owner of the Largo Art Gallery. As of January 2023, the organizer of the competition is the Jordan Petkov Art Foundation. “Largo Art” Ltd. and the team of Largo Art Gallery continue to be partners of the Foundation.
- Participants: The competition is open to artists from all over the world over the age of 16. There is no entrance fee.
Application Deadline: The selection will take place in two stages.
First stage: ONLINE SELECTION
Each participant is invited to submit digital reproductions of their artwork through a special online Application form available on the website www.forms.largogallery.com of Largo Art Gallery. Participants must fill in their information and can submit up to 5 photos of 5 artworks, descriptions, artist bios/resumes, and portrait photos.
Deadline for online registration – 01 October 2024 – 01 February 2025
REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITAL REPRODUCTIONS (PHOTOS):
Digital reproductions must be JPG or TIFF in the original colors of the photograph or scanned artwork; digital reproductions should be as close as possible to the original, without corrections and digital corrections in the file; the size of the image should be no more than 4 MB. The image must be correctly oriented (portrait or landscape). The file should be titled in English:
For example, “Ülke_Ad I_Soyad I_Ünvan_Teknik_YükseklikxGenişlik” in millimeters: Bulgaristan_John_Johnson_Baykuş__C3_130x150.
Second stage: SELECTION FOR EXHIBITION AND CATALOGUE
The competition jury selects the artists who will be invited to participate in the exhibition, catalog and compete for prizes. Selected artists will be notified via email and will be required to send their artwork to the address of the competition organizer for participation.
Deadline: The works must be delivered to the organizer’s address by April 15, 2025 at the latest.
Participation form: Each participant is required to fill out the Application (Participation) form and send it with the submitted works. Works that are not accompanied by a completed and signed Application Form will not be evaluated.
Theme: There is no theme other than the Jordan Petkov Award. The only condition to be eligible to apply for this award is that at least one of the works is dedicated to Jordan Petkov *.
* Jordan Petkov is the founder of the Largo Art Gallery, and without his support, dedication and love for art, the International Exlibris Competition Varna would not exist. Jordan passed away in 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus, but he lives on in the hearts of all those lucky enough to know him. Largo Art Gallery is giving a special award to a participant who will create a special ex-libris in the name of Jordan Petkov starting in 2021.
Number of entries: Participants can send a maximum of 5 (five) different book plates, each in 3 (three) signed copies. Works must have been created in the period 2023 – 2025. For first-time participants, ex-libris artworks created before 2023 are allowed.
Techniques: Entries using original graphic techniques will be accepted – Intaglio techniques (C, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8), Relief techniques (X, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7), Flatbed, stencil techniques (L1, L2, L3, L4, S1, S2) and artworks created with digital techniques (CGD). Photocopies, drawings or sketches will not be accepted.
Dimensions: The image (engraved part) of the ex-libris should not be larger than 180 x 180 mm. The paper size should not be larger than 290 mm x 210 mm.
Text: Each image must include the owner’s name and the following words: “Ex-libris”, “Bookplate”, or other similar phrase (for example, “From the bookplate…”). On the front of the book plates, under the image, the following statements should be written in pencil: the artist’s signature, the year of creation, the technique and title (if present in the work), the edition number or abbreviation – E/A, A/P.
Information: The back of each booklet should contain the following information, written in pencil, English and printing letters:
1) Name, surname, country of the artist
2) Name of the work
3) Technique used
4) Dimensions of the engraved part in mm
5) The year the work was created
6) Full versions of initials or abbreviations, if used.
Only entries that meet the requirements listed above will be considered for the Competition. Those who do not meet one or more of the requirements will not be reviewed.
Submission: The works must be sent by registered air mail as PRINTED MATERIAL, without glass, frame or passé-partout, with the declaration “NO COMMERCIAL VALUE”. Artifacts should be placed in a sturdy and waterproof package in the safest way to prevent any kind of damage. We recommend that you write “PRESSED MATERIALS, DO NOT FOLD” on the package in bold. The organizers are not responsible for problems caused by the fault of postal and courier services. The organizers will not accept packages with a high declared value and pending customs fees.
Address: The package with the booklet must be sent to the following postal address:
Milena Dimitrova
Largo Art Gallery
8 Han Krum Str.
9000 Varna
Bulgaria
Phone: +359897976397
Deadlines:
Recommended deadlines for submission of works:
For countries outside the European Union: Entries must be submitted before 20 February 20 20 2 5. (Based on the sender’s postmark date).
For European Union countries: Entries must be submitted before 20 March 20 20 2 5. (Based on the sender’s postmark date).
Postage costs are at the expense of the sender. A confirmation of receipt of the package will be sent by email. Works of art sent to the organizer’s address without being selected at the first stage will not be selected for the exhibition and catalog and will not compete for awards.
Exhibition: The Competition Jury, consisting of 5 members, will select the award winners and the artworks to participate in the Competition. Each selected artist will be notified via email. The exhibition will be exhibited at Largo Art Gallery between 06 June – 01 July 2025.
Catalogue : For the sixth edition of the International Exlibris Competition Varna, the organizer will publish a colourful catalogue in which a work will be presented to each artist selected for the exhibition. Selected artists will receive a copy of the printed catalogue free of charge.
Awards:
First Prize: Cash prize;
Second Prize: Cash prize;
Third Prize: Cash prize;
Young Artist Award (under 30): cash prize;
Award of the Varna Artists’ Association in the form of a bronze plaque.
Special prize for an ex-libris dedicated to Jordan Petkov on behalf of Jordan Petkov (read in item 5);
Honorable certificates and honorable mentions – by decision of the competition jury;
Prizes provided by contest sponsors and donors.
All winners will receive their prizes sent in person to their bank accounts after deducting taxes according to the Bulgarian Tax Code.
Rights: Submitted artworks will not be returned, regardless of whether they are accepted into the competition or not, and will remain the property of the graphic collection of the organizers of the event: the Jordan Petkov Art Foundation and the Largo Art Gallery. The organizer reserves the right to reproduce and display any accepted work for promotional or cultural purposes and/or to reproduce works without commercial purposes such as on the website of the competition, in catalogs, posters, etc.
Acceptance of the Rules: By filling out and signing the Application form, the participants are deemed to have donated the submitted works to the Competition fund, and are deemed to have accepted all the terms and conditions of the above-mentioned Competition Rules and the decisions of the Jury.
Deadline
February 1, 2025
Age category
The competition is open to artists from all over the world who are 16 years of age or older.
Organizer
The competition is organized by the Jordanian Petkov Art Foundation in Varna, Bulgaria.
The competition is held every two years, every two years. Its purpose is to introduce graphic art and graphic techniques, with a focus on small graphic forms, especially book plates.
You can submit up to 5 studies. There are no themes.
Only traditional charting techniques are suitable. Photocopies, drawings or sketches will not be accepted.
You must submit digital reproductions of your artworks through the online application form. The jury will select the artists who must submit original works.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPETITION PAGE
CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORMS