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The artists who will transform the Largo with their art during LÙNAR: The Lights of Sofia are now known
Works by seven finalists will be presented as part of the world’s largest immersive video mapping competition from September 17 to 20. The contest is organized by Sofia Municipality and MP-STUDIO as part of a special edition of the LÙNAR festival, a favorite among both residents and visitors of the capital. This year, the light art event is titled “The Lights of Sofia” and will celebrate Sofia Day by featuring impressive audiovisual works projected onto the facades of the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the Presidency, and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Bulgaria.
As part of the international competition Urban Pulse, artists were challenged to create works that would invite the audience to “immerse themselves” in one of the capital’s most iconic spaces – the Largo. The competition’s theme invited creators to explore the city beyond its physical form and, through their art, present it as a living organism with a constantly shifting rhythm.
45 artists and studios from 22 countries – from Brazil to Japan – registered to participate in the championship. Among the finalists in this prestigious championship are some of the most renowned names on the international light art scene:
- Ari Dykier, Poland, with the show SOUL
- Mödar, Indonesia, with the show Alpha + Omega: The Semen Rama Cycle
- The Fox, The Folks, Indonesia, with the show KALEIDOPOLIS
- Kurbas Production, Ukraine, with the show The Urban Jungle
- Luca Agnani, Italy, with the show Evolving Pulse
- Metanoia Creatives, Czech Republic, with the show Incidence
- SKG+, China, with the show „Pink Punk”
The competition’s international jury brought together representatives from the festival, cultural, artistic, and technology sectors. Its members included:
- Birgit Lill-Schnabl, Head of Programme, Klanhlicht – The Festival of Sound and Vision
- Irina Dakova, Deputy Mayor of Culture, Sofia Municipality
- Mariano Leotta, Creative / Show Director
- Marin Petkov, Founder and Art Director, MP-STUDIO and LUNAR
- Peter Czwietnia, Sales Manager EMEA, Christie Digital Systems
- Radoslav Mehandzhiyski, Art Historian and Curator, Co-founder of Art and Culture Today
The jury assessed the shortlisted entries both in terms of their artistic concept and impact, and in terms of how well they would work on the large-scale façades of Largo.
This year, two artworks will be awarded with the competition’s big prizes. The international jury will select its favorite show to receive the “Jury Award,” while for the first time, the audience will also have the opportunity to choose the one winner with “Audience Award.” Visitors can cast a single vote via the LÙNAR mobile app on the evenings of September 17–19. The two grand winners will be announced on the event’s final night, September 20.
The impressive works of the seven finalists will be screened on a loop on each of the four evenings. The event program will also feature special artistic content dedicated to Sofia’s city holiday, created through a collaboration between the popular page Sketches of Sofia and MP-STUDIO.
The special edition of LUNAR: The Lights of Sofia is organized by Sofia Municipality and MP-STUDIO. The event will take place at Independence Square and will be free to attend from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM on each of the four evenings, from September 17 to 20.
