Like any great personality and artist, he never speaks about himself. But suddenly, at his 65th birthday he surprised us, revealing himself in close-up. And again, not in words but in colour and signs. If there was anyone who on that rainy February the 16th wondered if there was anything better than bad weather, entering Bulgaria’s most prestigious gallery – the National Gallery – he certainly found the answer. Yes, there is. It is the magical power of great art, which doesn’t let you take off your eyes from the paintings, and makes the soul brim over with quiet bliss in the moment of empathy.