Art and technical thinking go hand in hand in the first exhibition of Bulgarian engineer-artist Dora Nikolova. The 14 large-scale compositions entitled Art Windows present an interesting combination of watercolour and computer technology.

Nikolova's works, which show the public a new way of constructing a painting, will be on show at Irida Gallery's hall in Interpred (36 Dragan Tsankov Blvd.) until October 11. "My works grab the viewer's attention with their innovation," said Nikolova. Her compositions present a fascinating combination of frames within frames. "Six years ago I decided to break - in the direct and indirect meaning - the frame," she explained.

"Until now every painting, even by the greatest painters, has been rectangular. My decision to break these frames was provoked by my desire to put them in a space and interweave them inside one another to achieve a multi-layered piece."

Nikolova was encouraged by the results of her first experiments with the new technique. She saw that the compositions were very interesting and attractive and has spent the past eight months creating the works for the current exhibition. The artist confessed that she gave the studios that were supposed to make the frames a very hard time.

The compositions present a vivid concoction of bright colours flowing from one frame to another. They seem like the perfect reflection of their energetic creator whose eyes opened wide every time she spoke about her art and who explained her ideas and aspirations with lively gestures.

Every painting in the Art Windows exhibition has a small presentational card to go with it, written in an archaic font and revealing the artist's thoughts and emotions while she was creating the particular work.

The card under the composition "New Age Religion" contains Nikolova's confession: "My entire life strategy demands that I wisely and consistently follow the road towards unity and perfection of spirit, soul and body with the purpose of upholding the highest religion of the universe - Truth."

Nikolova explained that painting is not simply a hobby for her. "It is an expression of my real self," she said. "I am very vivid, poetic, wise, and interested in art and spirituality. My whole life strategy is aimed at uniting the three components - spirit, soul and body - to strive for the wisdom of the universe and to give up my ego."

Nikolova said that the current exhibition at Interpred was only the beginning of her artistic period. She has worked as an engineer for the past 30 years. "In every work I am a constructor as well," she said.

Nikolova is so happy with her exhibition that she plans to create even more interesting things, to spend less time working with computers and devote more time to painting. The artist, who not only sees colours in her compositions but also hears the music in them, turned 55 earlier this year. Art Windows is dedicated to her birthday. "At this birthday I gave up a large salary to work with my art," she said.

Art admirers can purchase Dora Nikolova's innovative compositions at prices from 1,000 to 1,200 leva.