Krug +
Address: 5 Budapeshta Str
Reception tel: 988 25 79
Mon-Fri 10am - 7pm,
Sat-Sun 10am - 6pm

Vivid colours. Unbearable noise. Luminous surfaces. Pungent aromas. A low-class disco? Not quite. Only your sensual experience while strolling along the streets of Sofia. Mentally tired and exhausted, you glimpse into the surrounding venues in search of a quiet spot. Yet your saviour is neither near the luxurious beauty salon nor next to the expensive designer boutique. It is situated on the unpretentious, unobtrusive, centrally located street Budapeshta, one you probably usually leave unnoticed. It is here where the Krug + gallery – a cultural rescuer from the downtown turmoil – is located.

The depiction above has not been exaggerated a bit. Negligent of their soul’s hunger, people tend to get overwhelmed with what is physically appealing. Upon entering the small gallery, however, the ugliness and coarseness of the world’s clamours behind you suddenly vanish. You have encountered an elegant and simple-in-style, yet psychologically stimulating, site. Krug +, with its gallery, book store and cafe, will take care of your artistic and literary, as well as gastronomic, needs.

Indeed, it is quiet in there. The gallery captures you with an atmosphere of sophistication and classiness. Everything – ranging from the neat tables to the soothing music – is chosen very carefully, with taste. No blazing colours, no obtrusive textures or decorations slap you haughtily in the face. The people who have gathered here silently discuss their private issues, as if intentionally even dressed as true intellectuals. You feel safe.

And if you are tired of bumping into personnel who arrogantly snap at you, as can be found at other locations, again, you have come to the right place. A very refined young lady approaches and politely asks if she can help you. For, just a moment ago, you entered the bookstore – part one of this cozy establishment. Like everything else, the books also seem to be collected with a specific intention… So, hopefully you are a fan of the religious or historical encyclopaedias and the socially oriented books and diaries that are there to enrich your soul; the art books that will tell you everything about your favourite style or period; the collections of written wisdoms on how to be healthy through herbs, without medicines; biographies and autobiographies of psychologists and researchers; significant historical battles and events, narrated as an intriguing short story. Indeed, the attempt to accentuate the cultural and social aspect of the gallery is apparent.

If you are more practical, however, there is the shelf with the “self educators” in English, German, Spanish, etc. There are the numerous dictionaries to aid you in your linguistic pursuit as well. Last, but not least, there is a number of computer science books – ranging from the guides for Microsoft beginners to the C++ specialists. It is inevitable that you fall in love with a mystic’s contemplations or a king’s victories and decide to buy them, just for yourself. Unfortunately, you will do so in cash, as no credit cards are accepted.

If inspiration has already come to you so strongly and you need to write yourself, there are some pretty fashionable supplies in the other corner, too. Notebooks, pencils, pens and CDs are stored tidily behind the window glass. They are all beautiful, of course: here everything strives to gratify your eyes (which, as we concluded, are terribly exhausted from the chaos outside).

The centre of the site is dedicated to a cafe/lobby bar. The space is just enough so you can breathe in and enjoy the venue. Obviously, you cannot order a meal or a sophisticated dessert. The purpose is to sit down and sip a cold or hot drink. Plenty of juices and alcohols are available, all of them at a reasonable price. While slowly sipping, you cannot help but notice that the overall sense of cleanliness is enhanced by a selection of the gallery’s paintings. The feeling of being in a simple, yet special, place is strengthened by the fact that just above you, on the second floor, is the gallery itself. After you have rested and calmed your mind, you climb the stairs for your final bit of art.

Recently, the second floor of Krug + presented a number of Petar Dochev’s paintings, named Ot figurata do znaka (From figure to sign). It is so entitled for a straightforward reason – the collection exhibits works ranging from his early creations (including the “figure” mentioned) to his latest ones, never previously displayed. Apparently, the artist’s inspiration and theme subject (probably) changed significantly. Initially, the guest is faced with the grey reality of Bulgarian socialism – the works Kremikovci and Furgon” depict the actualities of the worker’s life: machines, machines, and again machines. Yet, as he further ambles past the white walls, he encounters something different – symbolic circles. Many, many circles – circles in red, black, golden, green, pale yellow and more. All of which are entitled Bez ime(Without name). As the author’s wish was that there were no brochures or information available in the gallery, it was up to the visitor to interpret the meaning of the mysterious circles.

Art is to be perceived individually, it needs to be a rare emotion triggered by your own experience with it. Hence, enough felony already…