In 2006 Eindhoven realized the first
Dutch Festival of Light – an international exhibition of art and
design installations in public space which make use of light as a material,
a medium and/or an object. It established itself immediately as the
new highlight in the annual agenda of the city.
In 2007 the successful partnership with the curators Bettina Pelz and
Tom Groll will be continued: From November 8th to the 18th, twenty light
installations will be positioned in the city’s centre –
as a temporary addition to the permanent installations of architectural
and urban lighting which have been developed over the recent years by
the city administration.
The temporary installations of a festival are an inspiring framework
to reinforce the idea of public space as a public forum. Eindhoven is
among the cities which develop new approaches to public activities in
the city’s centre to enhance public life. With its wide range
of good restaurants and unique pubs it is an urban space that offers
excellent options for night-time activities. Like GLOW 2006, the art
and design installations of GLOW 2007 will offer a new outlook on the
nocturnal potential of the city. During GLOW 2007, artists, lighting
designers and architects will bring invisible parts of the city to light.
For all installations it is self-understood that they work along the
parameters of contemporary lighting design and/or that they are outstanding
in their artistic qualities.
During GLOW 2006, public gardens and the green banks
of the river Dommel were the hosting spots for the light installations.
Usually they don’t offer enough light to make themselves a safe,
comfortable and attractive urban space in the night. With the installations
of GLOW they made 50 000 people experience the beautiful synergy between
natural environments and the amazing possibilities of artificial light.
In 2007 the installations will highlight locations which are connected
with aspects of the city’s development and its actual state but
which are not visible in daily life. Throughout the city’s centre
overlooked and forgotten, inaccessible and underutilized spaces will
be open to the public to generate the discussion: What Is The Contemporary
City? What Makes City Spaces Memorable And Recognizable? How Do Citizens
Nowadays Make Use Of Their City? What Are The Anchor points Of Identification?
How Does It Work For Guests and Visitors? And How Does It Function For
Commerces and Industries? How For The Scientific Communities? How Can
The Performance Of A City Be Improved? And How Can A City - Beyond Being
A Geographical And Architectural Context - Be Experienced In All It’s
Dimensions? |
