The first edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights was officially opened on May 6 at the Hyatt Regency Sofia. The event brought art out of museums and is already transforming thirteen of the most famous locations in Sofia between May 6 and 9, from 8:30 p.m until midnight. The artworks can be visited free of charge.
The official start of the festival was given by Georgi Georgiev, Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council and patron of LUNAR, Teodor Stoychev, Head of the European Parliament in Bulgaria, as well as the organizers Marin Petkov, Founder of MP-STUDIO and Birgit Zander, Founder of Festival of Lights International.
“I believe that we are launching a very beautiful event that will change the art scene in Bulgaria and will put our country on the map of this type of festivals. Thanks to all the artists who created their works for the festival and with great desire helped to transform the central part of Sofia. I hope to have the opportunity to grow LUNAR in the future and turn it into a tradition that will contribute to the economic development of our country, “said Marin Petkov, founder of MP-STUDIO and LUNAR.
“I am happy that from today together we will give the citizens of Sofia the opportunity to enjoy an exceptional event. For us, this is just the beginning. For our part, we will provide the necessary support to continue to develop this large-scale format. I am confident that thousands of citizens of Sofia and guests of the city will be fascinated by the talent of the artists who created their works for the city, “said Georgi Georgiev, Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council and patron of LUNAR.
The program of the festival will show various types of light art to the Bulgarian audience. Among them will be a special 3D mapping show on the facade of the National Gallery/Kvadrat 500, which will mark Europe Day.
“In 2017, the European Parliament in Bulgaria together with MP-STUDIO started the tradition of celebrating Europe Day with 3D mapping. Our idea was to celebrate May 9 in a slightly different and innovative way – to tell a story that would be fascinating. I am glad that five years later, thanks to the expansion of the form, we have the opportunity to contribute to the urban environment of Sofia and to good things happening in the city where we all live, “said Teodor Stoychev, Head of the European Parliament in Bulgaria.
The first edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights will present the art of talented artists from Australia, Bulgaria, India, Spain, France and Sweden. The program of the event includes different types of artworks that will reveal to the Bulgarian audience the diversity and power of this type of art.
“The moment when it all started was when the Bulgarian MP-STUDIO won the 3D mapping championship at the Brandenburg Gate in 2015. Now, 7 years later, we are organizing festivals together not only in Berlin but all over the world. I am very happy and proud that we are organizing the festival for the first time in Sofia and I am sure that LUNAR will grow year after year, “said Birgit Zander, founder of the Festival of Lights International Productions GmbH.
Organizer and main artistic team behind the project is the Bulgarian visual effects studio MP-STUDIO, in partnership with one of the most famous light festivals in the world Festival of Lights International Productions GmbH. The event is held with the support of the European Parliament in Bulgaria and the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria and under the patronage of the Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council Georgi Georgiev.
The facade of Hyatt Regency Sofia will be transformed into a canvas for artworks of artist from three continents. We are discussing the importance of organizing attractive for the audience [...]
