This year the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” was again part of the fourth edition of LUNAR Festival of Lights, held within four evenings between 8 and 11 May 2025 and in Sofia.

For the first time within the festival, on Europe Day, especially for the building of the National Library of Bulgaria, a “data sculpture” was created, in which different types of data were interpreted through algorithms and artificial intelligence, but refracted through the author’s gaze of visual artists.

The show, titled “Values”, presented in innovative and impactful way the core European values − human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. The artwork was created by analysing numerous data, such as those on voter turnout in the EU over the last 30 years and gender equality and socio-economic inequality. Also, transformed data from the Human Dignity Index by country, the World Index of Freedom of Expression and Personal Liberty and the text of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

During the pause between the “Values” video mapping show on the facade of the National Library  the letters of the Glagolitic, Cyrillic and fragments of the Argirov triod manuscript as a reference to the Year of the Glagolitic Alphabet, celebrated by the institution in 2025 with various cultural events, were visualised.

Thе show explored the core principles on which the European Union is built, in an attempt to uncover their visual expression, character, and symbolism. A data sculpture intertwined digital metaphors and emotional visualisation in an open dialogue with the audience about what truly matters.

„Our main message through this innovative artistic approach, involving interaction between artists and artificial intelligence, is that democracy is an ongoing process that depends on all of us and we must be active and stand up for the principles we believe in“, shared Teodor Stoychev, Head of the Bureau of the European Parliament in Bulgaria.

The National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” has been a partner cultural institution of the LUNAR Festival of Lights since its launch in 2022 when the building was the starting point in the route of the first edition of the Festival. Back then the twelve columns on the facade of the library revealed a world where some of the most beautiful animal species met to send an important message about the diversity of the planet, through the 3D mapping artwork “Wildlife Depends on Our Habits”.

Within four evenings artists from all around the world told stories, provoked the imagination, and surprised the audience through their magnificent 3D projection mapping, light installations, immersive experiences and laser show, positioned at 14 locations in the capital city. The access to all artworks part of the festival was free of charge.

LUNAR Festival of Lights is a private and independent initiative by the Bulgarian visual effects studio MP-STUDIO. It is organised in partnership with one of the most popular festivals of light art in the world Festival of Lights International Production GmbH. The event was held with the institutional support of the European Parliament in Bulgaria, the Representation of European Commission in Bulgaria, Sofia Municipality, Ministry of Tourism and with the financial support of Program “Creation” of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria.