Sleepy village in Bulgaria harnesses power of celebrities to lure tourists
3 Feb 2016 11:28 AM IST
The man behind the project is local artist Ventsislav Piryankov, who now lives and works in Poland
People talk next to the mural depicting Indira Gandhi and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in the Bulgarian village of Staro Zhelezare.- 'This is something good for the people of our village,' says Minka Plyuvkova, who works in the library.
- Before the murals, the village had been best known for a nearby prehistoric stone circle. Now, its cash-strapped residents hope the art project will attract more tourists.
- Living standards are low in the poorest member of the 28-nation European Union and the 400 residents of Staro Zhelezare struggle to make ends meet.
- Last summer, Piryankov and his students came to the village for what they called the 'First Mural Festival,' creating an outdoor art gallery with Banksy-style graffiti on the walls.
- The man behind the project is local artist Ventsislav Piryankov, who now lives and works in Poland, where he created an art school.
- Krustyo Tonev, poses in front of a mural depicting himself next to the German chancellor Angela Merkel.
- Outdoor murals in the village of Staro Zhelezare feature local people alongside celebrities on their homes. Homeowners are depicted with various world leaders and celebrities.
- A sleepy village in central Bulgaria is harnessing the power of celebrities, hoping for an economic revival through art.
- Ivan, resident of the Staro Zhelezare village poses in front of a mural depicting his own portrait sitting next to the US President Barak Obama in the Bulgarian village of Staro Zhelezare.
People talk next to the mural depicting Indira Gandhi and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in the Bulgarian village of Staro Zhelezare.
The man behind the project is local artist Ventsislav Piryankov, who now lives and works in Poland
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