BEHIND THE MASK: SURVA FEST

In January 24-25, 2026, I traveled to Pernik, Bulgaria, to witness the chaotic beauty of the Surva Festival (International Festival of Masquerade Games). This ancient ritual is designed to chase away evil spirits and welcome the coming spring.

This collection is a documentary of that day—capturing the preparation, the exhausting performance, and the joy of keeping a heritage alive. I focused on the contrast between the terrifying masks and the human eyes looking through them. Witness the loudness of the bells through the silence of photography.