For
the third successive time the center of Eindhoven will be the stage
and podium for GLOW this autumn. From 7 to 16 November 2008 tens of
works can be seen and experienced along the route, which are developed
by artists and designers from home and abroad. This open air exhibition
provides a fascinating spectacle of applied light art and design on
landmarks and other unique locations in, what else, Holland’s
City of Light!
The works show different and experimental applications of light art and design which were developed by using new media technologies such as computers, sensors, animation, but also with better known projecting techniques. Interaction with the visitors plays an important role. Because the public space is the stage, the city’s center of Eindhoven will transform into a open air museum for 10 ten days with surprising and radiant results!
Next to light, art and design are inextricably connected to technology. So, GLOW is in it’s element in Eindhoven, because these pillars contribute extensively to the technological development of the region of Eindhoven as the centre of Brainport.The art route runs from the city’s center on the axes of the Stationsweg, 18 Septemberplein and Mathildelaan into Strijp-S.
Unique in the Netherlands
The combined action of light with art and design, applied by tens of national and international artists and designers of this size make GLOW a unique event in the Netherlands. On international level GLOW joins light festivals such as Lichtrouten (Lüdenscheid), Vigileu (Barcelona), Le Festival Arbres et Lumières (Geneve), Radiance: The Glasgow Festival of Light (Glasgow) and Luzboa (Lissabon), Valon Voimat (Helsinki), ValgusFestival (Talinn), Ljudmila (Ljubljana).
International interest
GLOW is visited annually by a large amount of spectators, young and old, from home and abroad. In 2007 over 65,000 visitors came to see the artworks. The growing number of people that visit GLOW because of their education or professional occupation with art, design, light and/or technology is striking. Next to national and regional media the editions of GLOW are being reported on by several (inter)national specialized magazines from Russia to the United States and by (inter)national television stations. Over 70 websites have paid attention to GLOW on the internet (registered by the organisation) In 2007 GLOW was visited by the enthusiastic and international members of LUCI (“Light Urban Community International”). This is a worldwide international forum for cities of light.
Organisation
GLOW is an initiatief of CityDynamiek Eindhoven and is extensively supported by a large number of institutions in Eindhoven such as Centrum voor Kunstlicht in de Kunst, Van Abbemuseum, Temporary Art Centre, Design Academy, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven and Fontys Hogescholen. Regarding the programming we have collaborated with the organisations of the international light festivals from Lüdenscheid (GER), Glasgow (UK), Gent (BEL), Barcelona (ESP), Lissabon(POR), Talinn (EST), Helsinki (FIN) and Ljubljana (SLO).
Curators
Bettina Pelz and Tom Groll are connected as curators to GLOW since
2006. They gained great fame as curators of the similar light festival
Lichtrouten in Lüdenscheid (GER), which they organise since 2002.
Bettina Pelz teaches at the Art Academy in Bremen and advisor to the
cultural committee of LUCI. Tom Groll is an artist and mainly aims
for light art. An artwork by his hand can be admired during Glow every
year. The (inter)national artists/designers who present their work
during GLOW are being selected on their artistic level, the applicability
of their work within the location as well as the innovative use of
light and technology. Concept
The third edition of GLOW in November 2008 follows the conceptual framing of the editions in 2006 and 2007 in which art works and architectural interventions, based on artificial light, became temporarily part of public urban spheres. The concept of GLOW is rooted in the contemporary developments of fine arts, designs and architectures. It reflects current urban designs and experiences and takes present cultural developments in account. Each edition seeks its specific approach and access to the city from different perspectives. Subjects, locations and pathways are drawn from an inter-disciplinary platform with intimate knowledge of the geography, the consistency and the spirit of the city. The amount of site-specific installations is due to the aim to root the exhibition as far as possible in the texture of the city.
Theme: Connect the Forbidden City
The idea of the 2008 edition is to bridge a gap in the public mind:
The geographical distance from the city’s historic and commercial
center to the future creative campus is, with about 2000 meters, short,
but in the daily mind-map the city ends at the PSV Stadium. However,
the former Philips premises are within eyespot. From 1922 to 2007
these buildings formed “the forbidden city” because the
company’s terrain was only open to their own employees. The
redevelopment of “Strijp-S” will open that part of the
city’s center to all citizens as a meeting point and aims for
settlements of creative industries. During GLOW 2008 the stretch from
the Effenaar to Strijp-S will turn into a walking street with more
than 20 installations based on artificial light, implemented by international
artists, designers and architects.
