Benthem Crouwel Architects (Jan Benthem and Mels Crouwel) and UNStudio (Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos) have developed artworks that will light up the center of Amsterdam during the winter months especially for the fifth edition of the Amsterdam Light Festival 2016-2017. Which takes place from the 1st of December until the 22nd of January. The artwork Lightwaves is a co-creation between Benthem Crouwel Architects and the Dutch designer Jólan van der Wiel. Lightwaves is part of the Water Colors boat route. Eye_Beacon from UNStudio forms the start of the Illuminade walking route and is also part of Water Colors. In addition to these two celebrated Dutch architectural firms the festival can count on light projects from the leading American Choi + Shine Architects and the internationally renowned DP Architects from Singapore.
Lightwaves
Sea sparkles are small organisms that light up when they move in the water. In the summer they create an intriguing flow on the Dutch shores. Lightwaves from Benthem Crouwel Architects mimics the behavior of the animals. The artworks sparkles and shines when the wind blows and creates a fascinating light effect in the city. Thousands of LED lights catch the invisible wind and show air flows as waves.
Eye_Beacon
Deep in the ocean organisms create light in the darkness of their surroundings to communicate with other creatures. Eye_Beacon from UNStudio imitates this behavior and communicates with bystanders through lit pattern and changing colors. The artwork exists of two connected cubes with a skin of flexible textile. It is not just a light object; Eye_Beacon also serves as the central information point of the festival. The artwork will be located at the Blauwbrug and is being executed though a collaboration with MDT-tex.
Impression Eye_Beacon van UNStudio
Rhizome House
Especially for the Amsterdam Light Festival DP Architects develops the artwork Rhizome House. The reputable bureau designed The Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping center in the world, among others. Rhizome House is a life size representation of a rhizome. Visitors must find their way through the teeming roots. Whenever someone enters the object the light responds. First chilled blue and then bright pink. The space evokes different emotions: familiarity and alienation. The work inspires to think about atmosphere and comfort.
Impression Rhizome House, DP Architects.
The Lace
Choi + Shine Architects - known from The Land of Giants, a design that transforms everyday electrical masts into enormous statutes - gives a contemporary spin to a traditional Dutch lace piece. The Lace is a lace cap that exists out of a tissue of threats of glowing light. The magical levitating three dimensional work of 10 meters wide symbolizes the cultural richness of Amsterdam. The lace stands for the interrelationship between the inhabitants of Amsterdam and the intertwined nature of the city with its winding roads, canals and squares. The Lace will be found floating above the Herengracht.
Impression The Lace, Choi + Shine Architects
Follow the making of of the artworks through: https://www.amsterdamlightfestival.com/en
Participating artists Amsterdam Light Festival 2016-2017 Isabe Nielen - Ana Morphè, Anna Musch, Cleo de Brabander and Eliza Mante - 15.000 and more, Reanna Niceforo and Phil Sutherland - Dancing with Trees, Victor Engbers - Greenhouse, Christian Zöllner, Sebastian Piatza and Robert Albert - Human Beeing, Vikas Patil and Santosh Gujar - Nest, Victor Vicsek - Nexus, Choi + Shine Architects - The Lace, Laurent de Wolf - What’s He Building In There, Tropisme Art & Science Collective - You lookin' at me?, UNStudio - Eye_Beacon, Benthem Crouwel Architects - Lightwaves, DP Architects - Rhizome House, a.o.
Water Colors, the boat route: 1 December 2016 until 22 January 2017
Illuminade, the walking route: 15 December 2016 until 8 January 2017
About Amsterdam Light Festival
The city center of Amsterdam will be the atmospheric décor for the fifth edition of Amsterdam Light Festival, for more than 50 days, from the 1st of December 2016 until the 22nd of January 2017. The festival shows colorful light sculptures and projections from national and international artists. Apart form the placement of light art on the boat route Water Colors (theme: ‘A View on Amsterdam’) and the Illuminade walking route (theme: ‘Biomimicry’), a variety of other activities will be organized. Amsterdam Light Festival is sponsored by founding partner Canal Company. www.amsterdamlightfestival.com
