In 2023, the 19th edition of the International bookplate competition, organized by Lyuben Karavelov Regional Library - Ruse, "EX LIBRIS - EX DILEMMA" was held. The theme was a challenge to the artists to seek the philosophical essence of the manifold dilemmas of modern man and to convey their messages. This edition of the contested competition was held under the patronage and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture and the "Culture" Program of the Municipality of Ruse. 284 works of 204 participants from 29 countries (Bulgaria, Turkey, Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, etc.) competed for the Grand Prize of the competition. Doyen among the participants this year is Gyorgy Boros - Hungarian by origin, born in 1934, who has participated in the competition since 2014. The youngest artist joins the forum for the second time. He was born in 2017 in Canada and his name is Romane Darveau.
The judging was carried out by an expert team composed of: Rumen Kozhuharov, PhD - lecturer at New Bulgarian University, Elizar Milev, PhD - lecturer at the National Academy of Arts, specialty "Design of porcelain and glass"; Professor Hasip Pektas lecturer at Istinye University, Faculty of Communication, Visual Communication Design Department; Ivo Raykov - PhD student and part-time lecturer at the National Academy of Arts; Julian Yordanov - art director of the International Bookplate Competition, Largo Gallery, Varna; Rumen Kozhuharov, PhD – lecturer at the "Design" Department of New Bulgarian University; Stoyan Bundhulov, PhD – lecturer at New Bulgarian University and assoc. prof Valentin Savchev - sculptor.
In the separate categories, the jury determined the three best works. In the under 14 years’ category, they are Magdalena Aleksandrova - Gorna Oryahovitsa (Bulgaria), Aurelie Darveau - Canada and Romane Darveau - Canada. In the category from 14 to 26 years old, the awardees are Iskren Sinapov - Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Elitsa Dimitrova - Sofia (Bulgaria) and Laura Imangalieva - Kazakhstan, and in the category over 26 years old - Krzysztof Marek Bak - Poland, Maya Cholakova - Sofia (Bulgaria) and Joan Pujol i Ros - Spain.
With the GRAND PRIX of the competition, the jury awarded Krzysztof Marek Bak from Poland for the "Author's exlibris".
THE PRIZE OF LYUBEN KARAVELOV REGIONAL LIBRARY - RUSE is awarded to Sandro Chinellato from Italy for the work "Family at the crossroads".
Seven sponsor awards found their winners: Iskren Sinapov - Plovdiv and Joan Pujol i Ross - Spain of "Zahari Stoyanov" Foundation - Ruse; Elitsa Dimitrova - Sofia of Adeo Hotel - Ruse; Maya Cholakova - Sofia of Gera LtD - Ruse; Hristo Kerin - Veliko Tarnovo of Ruse Chamber of Commerce; Georgi Ashikov-Asho - Sandanski of Rotary Club - Ruse, and Rositsa Georgieva from Gorna Oryahovitsa of SPLASH Design Studio - Sofia.
