St. Sofia: The Shadow Below Her

At the dawn of Bulgaria's transition to democracy in the 90s, the change in the population's mentality was reflected with the erection of a new monument in the country's capital, replacing that of communist leader Lenin. Named after the city she resides in, Saint Sofia was meant to embody a new future for the bulgarian people, free of malicious influences. But as the years go by, bad actors misrepresenting her began to fuel a hate campaign, furthering the divide between those who opposed and those in favour of the old regime. What exactly has led to this divide and is there any way to breach it? And what do the statue's creators think about the discussions surrounding their work?