site.btaFrench Sculptor Mateo Mornar Presents First Exhibition in Bulgaria

French sculptor Mateo Mornar is visiting Bulgaria for the first time, presenting an exhibition of bronze sculptures at Gallery 33 in Varna. The exhibition, titled “Monaco in Varna”, will be on display until March 14.

Mornar was born in Croatia and emigrated with his family to France as a child. Known as a French modernist, he has lived in Monaco for the past 35 years and has worked closely with the House of Grimaldi.

Stoyan Novakov, organizer of the event, told the Bulgarian News Agency that Gallery 33 is already known in Monaco and that exchanges of exhibitions are planned in the future. He explained that Mornar works with various techniques, with layered paper being particularly characteristic of his style. The sculptor creates his moulds from papier-mache before casting the works.

The bronze sculptures selected for Mornar’s presentation in Bulgaria pay tribute to the female body. The artist has also created large-scale works in steel. Visitors can also view in the gallery a catalogue of his works, including cubic sculptures of animals dedicated to the protection of endangered species.

Mornar studied design, graphic design, interior decoration and sculpture techniques at the École supérieure des arts modernes in Paris. His early professional work involved developing large-scale models displayed at trade fairs. He later became a freelancer and for many years worked in publishing, graphic arts and interior decoration. In 1995, Mornar devoted himself entirely to sculpture and began exhibiting his early bronze female figures in Cannes, Nice and Monaco. He has also worked with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.