"I WANT to give up my Bulgarian citizenship," said Kostadin Kalchev with a big dose of bitterness in his voice. "My `sweet' home country has robbed me - my house, my paintings, everything." This is the only explanation he gave, becoming strangely quiet and sensitive about the subject.

He is not a world-renowned painter, but at Narodno Sabranie square he's famous. You've probably seen him during the summer at the corner of the Radisson hotel and Shishman street, leant over his easel with a cigarette and a palette of oil paints in his hands, surrounded by a dozen paintings. The Tsar Osvoboditel statue, Sofia University, and the National Assembly are just some of subjects of his work, which you can buy as a souvenir. He's there even now, when the chilly October mornings smell more like winter than autumn.
"I like it here, it's very spacious, bright and alive. Air and light are still free of charge," said Kalchev of his abstract studio and showroom, just across from the Bulgarian Parliament. "Moreover, I don't have anywhere else to paint. The basement I live in is not the best place for painting."

To him painting is not just a profession or a kind of art. After practicing for 35 years it has become a part of his life, a part if his personality. "I cannot give it up, it would mean the end for me," he confessed.

On the other hand, now it has turned out to be his only way to earn his living. At the age of 48, having worked mostly with the brush for the past four to five years, it's hard to find a job in Bulgaria.  It's not that he's reluctant to work - he has experience as a printer, lithographer and worker in one of Bulgaria's biggest factories, the Kremikovtsi steel works. But even the threat of being homeless can't make Kalchev lose his pride and dignity, and he's still doing the thing he does the best -painting. Therefore, the only income the street artist receives is when someone buys one of his canvases. But it's difficult relying on chance when it comes to rent and food.

"Most of the people who buy my paintings are foreigners. They have no problem evaluating the work of a street painter without prejudice. Bulgarians are different. They prefer judging and insulting you because you paint in the street. Of course, some of them - not rich people - buy too, but it happens rarely," said Kalchev.

This brought back his acute desire to emigrate and reminded him of the past in Germany when his life was better. "I spent six years in Germany and that country has given me more than Bulgaria did in my entire life. I had five individual exhibitions in Cologne - something they never let me do here," said Kalchev. He regretted the fact that he had missed his chance to go back to Germany because of money problems after he came back to Bulgaria in 1995.

Talking about art in Bulgaria he became suspicious and distrustful. According to him the art mafia is still alive in post-socialist Bulgaria. Despite this fact he is liberal enough not to discourage young people who want to be professional painters. "I won't say anything bad about this profession to a person who wants to paint. It's his life, it's his decision. I can only help with a few hints about technique. "
Although the Houses of Bulgarian Parliament are a main object of his urban landscapes, and he is painting 50 metres from the building where Bulgarian laws are created, Kalchev affirmed he's far away from the politics. Unlike most Bulgarians, the street artist declares his total apathy and illiteracy when it comes to politicians.

Kalchev prefers not to think about the future. Maybe because he's afraid his pessimism would grab him. "I don't dream anymore. I just want some calmness."