site.btaSculptor Ivan Stoyanov: Bulgarian Culture Key Highlight among Diversity and Richness Bulgaria possesses

“There are many things we can present to the world, and they are not mutually exclusive. However, for me, Bulgarian culture is a key highlight among the diversity and richness that Bulgaria possesses,” sculptor Ivan Stoyanov told BTA during the presentation of the new issue of LIK magazine, dedicated to Bulgaria's participation in the world expos. 

Stoyanov is the author of the monumental artwork “Prayer for Peace,” which greets visitors at the Bulgarian pavilion of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The sculpture, standing 270 cm tall and weighing nearly five tons, depicts human hands pressed together in prayerful contemplation—a universal symbol understood across cultural boundaries. According to the artist, the gesture of joined hands is widely used in Japan to express gratitude, giving the piece a multilayered message: both a prayer for peace and a sign of appreciation to all visitors coming to see Bulgaria’s presentation. 

The work came to life after an invitation from Japanese sculptor Masaji Asaga and the Japan Stone Industry Association, with the idea of creating a sculpture dedicated to peace. The piece was made on-site during Stoyanov’s one-month stay in Japan in October 2024.

“When I started the sculpture, I thought of peace mainly as the opposite of war. But during the process, I began to see it in a broader sense—as harmony, kindness, love, and health. Peace means inner calm, harmony in relationships among people, and peace in the world,” Stoyanov said. He added that it is a great honor for his work to be part of such a significant international forum.

Ivan Stoyanov believes that along with Bulgaria’s natural beauty, history, and its many remarkable individuals—past and present—culture is a leading element in shaping the image of the country to the world.