Amsterdam Light Festival surprised locals with light art in the area

7 artworks in 4 city districts
The renewed shape of the festival was an answer to the forced cancellation of the traditional boat experience and the newly developed Light Walk. Locals and passers-by from city districts North, New-West, Centre and South have been able to enjoy the light artworks over the past couple of months. These newly developed light artworks - based on the theme When Nature Calls - all had their own storylines, such as water, air and nature. 

The message of HEART/EARTH (by British artists Tom Biddulph & Barbara Ryan) to listen to ourselves and to our eath was enforced by spoken word artist Roziena Salihu. A thought that sits well with the sustainability vision of the University of Amsterdam, where the work is installed. The light projection Omaggio A (by iGuzzini w/ Amsterdam Light Festival and illustrations by Rachel Kondrup) brought and ode to three important female scientists and was - how very suitable - projected onto the facade of the Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc. Guichelheil en Duizendschoon (by Dutch artist collective Blauwe Uur) gave a visual representation of the nature in North-Holland, which deserves some attention. The work Labyrinth (by American artist Katie Urban) visualized the metric results of the extensive research the GGD and City of Amsterdam are conducting regarding the city's air quality.

The festival regards the development of creativity and imagination of younger generations highly. That is why three educational projects have been developed, for primary, secundary and higher education. About 650 primary school students have participated in a large-scale research regarding the air quality in Amsterdam, together with Wetenschapsknooppunt Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, ARTIS Micropia and Juf op Straat. This all resulted in the artwork The Water We Breathe (by Stichting Nieuwe Helden). Furthermore, three technasium schools have taken part in a pilot project called Light Lab Technasium, during which students were challenged to create light art prototypes. With The Biggest, Smallest Heroes (by Breitner Academie students Ilse Kok, Kawita ten Kate & Renée Westland) we have become aware of the fact that not all viruses are bad - a current topic, told by upcoming artistic talent.

Online storytelling
Not only the presence in the city was different, so was the communication with visitors. Lucas De Man, theatrical producer and resposible for the creative direction of Edition #9, defined the theme and storytelling. Every week a new artwork story was shared through videos, interviews and behind the scenes, accessible via the website and social media. The artists and concepts, scientific research results, current topics and artistic backgrounds stressed the urgence of the theme When Nature Calls.

Preparations for anniversary Edition #10 have started
Winter 2021-2022 will be all about celbrating the tenth edition of Amsterdam Light Festival. Over the past nine editions, more than 200 artworks have been created specially for the festival. Edition #10 will exhibit the most memorable artworks of the collection, as a tribute. Preparations for the anniversary edition are already in full swing!