"LIGHT IN OUR LIVES"

 Gdańsk Light Festival (10 - 11th of May 2024)

The Third Edition of the Festival of Light has Illuminated Gdańsk in a Spectacular Fashion!

With electrifying projections, enchanting concerts, and a myriad of dazzling attractions, the festival featured over 50 exhibitions, shows, and workshops dedicated to the captivating theme of LIGHT. More than 3,000 residents and visitors from the Tricity area participated in this year's celebration at Hevelianum.

Under the fitting slogan "Light in Our Lives" the festival filled Gradowa Hill on May 10 and 11 with a diverse array of exhibits, performances, and attractions that blended art, science, and technology. In alignment with UNESCO's International Day of Light, the organizers aimed to highlight the indispensable role light plays in nearly every aspect of our lives. The unique architecture of Hevelianum set a stunning backdrop for the festival's displays, allowing attendees to experience the multifaceted nature of light as it intertwines with everything from painting to quantum physics.

What sets our Tricity Festival of Light apart from similar events is its multidisciplinary approach. This festival goes beyond just art; it brings together technology, science, and various life spheres where these fields converge. These intersections are what matter most to us. We aspire to showcase the remarkable outcomes that can arise when artists, scientists, and engineers collaborate. As Magda Maszewska, one of the festival's initiators, puts it, “The Festival of Light is proof of how much can be achieved when we join forces, inspire each other, and support one another.”

Over the weekend, the visitors were delighted by the artistic experiments showcasing light-based technologies. An interactive painting by the Italian collective NucleoX captivated audiences by bringing classical art to life through computer animation. A particularly striking example of interdisciplinary collaboration was the "Siphonophora" installation, created by students from the Faculty of Sculpture and Intermedia at the Academy of Fine Arts (ASP), with support from Hackerspace Tricity. Another highlight was Jakub Kirklewski's "Clue", a series of algorithm-driven lamps inspired by the iconic painting style of Wojciech Fangor. Attendees were enthralled by an exhibition dedicated to the works of renowned Polish muralist Robert Proch, which featured animations of the artist's pieces generated with artificial intelligence, showcasing the dynamic components of his murals. An interactive ceiling light installation added to the atmosphere, pulsating and changing in response to movement and color, further heightening the viewer's experience.

Artistic direction for the event was expertly managed by the L'arT Agency. Aleksandra Goździelewska from L'arT expressed her enthusiasm: “This year's festival allowed us to collaborate with an incredible group of artists, and I'm thrilled that our event draws talent from around the world. Presenting works from creators coming from Japan, Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal Spain to the Tricity audience is immensely rewarding. The festival fostered spontaneous collaborations among artists that might not have happened otherwise. For example, Esther Kasenda danced to Miss God’s music while Duo Luna illuminated Nicola Pavone's DJ set, and Julie Tampierová from the Metanoia collective created a stunning visual mapping inspired by Navigator's music just half an hour before his concert.”

Workshops, lectures, and interactive exhibitions are crucial components of the festival that enrich the experience. Attendees enjoyed a range of engaging activities, including an outdoor game, an escape room, interactive light play in the Hackerspace Tricity area, and scientific experiments curated by Hevelianum.

The evening attractions of the Festival of Light did not disappoint. Despite less-than-ideal weather, the nighttime projections, concerts, and performances captivated audiences. After sunset, Hevelianum Center was transformed by unique visualizations created specifically for the festival by artists from Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Italy. The atmospheric concerts included Miss God enchanting the audience with mystical Eastern sounds played on a laser harp, the duo BLKDOT/Klimat performing music on modular synthesizers, and the electroacoustic group Voices of the Cosmos presenting pieces inspired by “cosmic sounds”. A highlight of the evening was a live performance by Italian artist and VJ Nicola Pavone, who showcased a DJ set paired with live visual mapping, accompanied by dance performances from Portuguese performer Esther Kasenda and Duo Luna, who mesmerized the audience with their glowing wings.

The Festival of Light is a grassroots initiative by a passionate collective of cultural animators from three organizations: Hackerspace Tricity, Hevelianum, and L’arT Agency. Together, they champion the slogan "We Connect People Through Light" creating a unique event that harmoniously blends science, art, and technology while integrating the local community. The festival would not have been possible without the hard work of countless volunteers, private individuals, and collaborating institutions, including the City of Gdańsk, the City Culture Institute, the Robert Proch Foundation, ICETEK, CODE:ME Foundation, the Third Age Academy of Gdańsk University of Technology, the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, the Aleksander Jabłoński Foundation, Astronarium, Food Hall Montownia, the SKALP Robotics Association, the Astronomy Magazine Urania PA, and the Łukasiewicz Institute.

Organizers

Hevelianum is a place to engage with science and history, ideal for enjoying leisure time among historic architecture and lush greenery. Since January 2022, Hevelianum has also operated a seaside branch in the Spa House of Brzeźno, focusing on ecological education. [Visit Hevelianum]

Hackerspace Tricity is a community for technology enthusiasts and builders, welcoming anyone eager to grow, share knowledge, and create an open technological space. [Explore Hackerspace Tricity]

L’arT Agency is a creative artists agency and an online gallery dedicated to promoting light and color art, connecting artists with potential clients, and curating amazing artistic projects. [Discover L’arT]

Text by: Emilia Mikulska

Photos by: Grzegorz Mehring