Light is life!
GLOW 2020 took place from 12 to 14 November. If 2020 has made us realise anything, it is just how much of life’s purpose and pleasure comes from relationships and human connections. We need people around us; it’s just the way we’re built. The buzz, the joy, the community, those we love. Close by and far away. Visible and out of sight. We need light, we need life.
It’s important to remember that we are not alone. To remember that there are others just like us in our building, in our street, in our town, village or city. In our country. In our world. And to celebrate that we are all connected.
And what better place in which and from which to share this message than Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The city which, over 15 years, has connected millions of visitors through the internationally acclaimed GLOW light art festival. Not this year though – GLOW was cancelled, like so much else.
Connecting the Dots
But forget that for a moment. We turned this around and created something unforgettable. A one-off, magical moment that took the festival’s “light is life” spirit and translated it to a special edition. An artwork for the people and city of Eindhoven. And for the citizens of the world. A thank you for 15 fantastic years. And a commitment to many more to come. An artwork that came to people and connected them without anyone having to leave their homes. From 12 to 14 November Eindhoven was a living, global symbol of connection, reconnection and hope. We called it Connecting the Dots.
From Eindhoven to the world
Connecting the Dots was a city-wide project and worldwide livestream with three central elements. First, the creation of a sea of beautiful red dots floating throughout the city. 1,000 LED-powered lamps, designed by light artist Ivo Schoofs, spreading light inside and out. Plus over 20,000 lamps made by the city’s residents and around the rest of the world, hung in their windows at home. A project of 20,000 artists, led by designer Hugo Vrijdag. The result is a sea of metaphors upon which anyone, and everyone, can project their thoughts about a person, a dream, a vision, an opinion or an idea.
The third element of this unique artwork was a spectacular blue night sky – a blue dome projection by Finnish light artist Kari Kola. An up-lifting warm-blue blanket that wrapped around and embraced you.
The result was a beautiful blue sky speckled with fixed and floating red dots, lighting up the city from the inside out to create an unforgettable, moving experience that everyone could enjoy. Just a celebration of light, life and connection for you to enjoy above, around and beyond.