Photos and text by Zuzanna Stawiska
Luna is a recurring festival during which various objects in the city are illuminated to give a spectacular night show on the streets. This year’s edition revolves around the theme “nothing changes”.
Is it simply a gloomy prophecy for the future? A promise of stability? The slogan proved to be an inspiration for many young artists for their contribution to the festival. The organisers, Stichting Media Art Friesland, aim to discover fresh talents: this year’s edition presents the public with 18 locations for Luna Lights and an additional Young Masters exhibition.
This weekend is the last chance to see the Young Masters exhibition at Stationskwartier (Snekertrekweg 1). It features light and media artworks by fifteen different artists who use a range of various techniques.
Another event, Turbine play, can be attended on Saturday afternoon. The project is an interdisciplinary performance focusing on the wind – as well as, perhaps surprisingly, on climate adaptation, cultural heritage and landscape change.
Since 2016 in its present form, the light performances brighten Leeuwarden’s public spaces each year. Perhaps the piece closest to this year’s festival theme for 2023 is Antrilope/Clemens Rudolf’s animation, “James”, displayed on Tesselschadestraat. The main character keeps running, but his situation seems to spiral or go in circles, recurring over again.
Another work, Bazhad Sulaiman’s “Chor” in turn aims to drive the audience’s attention towards overconsumption: the playful chorus of colourful fridges or microwaves in the very middle of the city indeed makes it rather difficult to miss the point.
On Stationskwartier, an interactive, digital artwork “Eternal Dream” by Simon Weckert drew much attention of the visitors. Due to a scanning technology, a jump on a spot right next to the lighted building would reproduce the hopping silhouette and make it float up, towards the sky.
Even though this edition’s Luna Lights has ended, some elements of the festival are still present. This weekend is your last chance to enjoy the Young Masters and Turbine.
