The official route for the latest edition of Lux Helsinki stretched from Helsinki Cathedral to the shoreline of the Tokoinranta river and was comprised of nine installations.
The theme of nature was highlighted in several of this year’s installations. Mirrorowl (Bubo speculus) by Jere Suontausta is a sculptural light installation that hoots from a tree branch, casting its stare on the verge of climate catastrophe and mass extinction.
Magic Mirror by artist Meri Ekola in turn was inspired by its location: surrounded by water at the Tokoinranta boat dock, which led her to think about our eternal attraction towards mirrored images.
The Lux Architecture series showcased the buildings in Helsinki, and this year it shone the light on the Helsinki City Theatre. The installation day and night at the end of the official route, transformed the façade of the building into a landscape that recalls the beauty of nature. The installation was designed by Eero Helle from Visual45 and featured music by Kimmo Pohjonen.
Environmental values were promoted in the arrangements for the festival: Lux Helsinki compensated for the CO2 emissions of all the installations during the opening hours of the event. This was done through the Finnish Compensate Foundation, which compensates emissions through forest planting and protection projects. In this instance, more CO2 was compensated than actually created; according to estimates for Lux Helsinki, this equates to 575 planted trees, 0.2-hectares of protected forest and 39-tonnes of CO2 removed from the atmosphere.
In addition to the light-art along the official route, Lux Helsinki presented six satellite installations and groups of installations stretching from Hanaholmen in Espoo to Itäkesus. The satellite installations made it possible to present light-art indoors and in very exceptional environments, such as at Helsinki Zoo on the island of Korkeasaari.
The evening of the Lux Helsinki Opening Club was held at Valkoinen Sali, and began with Bring Your Own Beamer (BYOB), where anyone could project their own light-art. In the past, art that has first appeared at BYOB has later been presented along the official Lux Helsinki route. The evening continued with live music and a mystical atmosphere created by Quadrivium and the experimental sounds of the Cleaning Women, a group that makes music out of clothes drying racks.
Lux Helsinki Eat was a food event organised in connection with the light festival in which more than 20 restaurants participated, offering specially created servings and menus. Finally, Lux Morning presented specially selected installation on the last morning of the festival to cheer up commuters and early birds.
