Every autumn, Berlin becomes a stage for lighting art, with buildings and squares turning into stars. Then come joyful faces and sparkling eyes. This year is slightly more significant than in previous years, as both the past and present are challenging times. We all need moments of joy and happiness from which we can draw more strength and confidence in the future.

The annual Berlin Festival of Lights took place in Berlin, Germany, from October 7 to 16 local time. Thirty-five landmark buildings were illuminated with lighting, and 70 light art installations showcased a vibrant and colorful cityscape.

Unlike previous years, the 2022 Berlin Festival of Lights will reduce electricity consumption by 75% compared to previous years.

The theme of this year's Berlin Festival of Lights is "Envisioning Our Future." As Germany faces the challenges of an energy crisis, the organizers hope to empower people through art during these difficult and uncertain times, helping them maintain the will to shape a better future and bringing joy and respite through lighting art.

In addition, the lighting festival has also been criticized by environmental protection advocates, who argue that holding a lighting festival during the current energy shortage is a waste.

At least seven artists will present their artistic interpretations of the Festival of Lights theme "Looking to Our Future" on the Berlin TV Tower, the tallest building in Germany. The five works offer personal perspectives from different cultures on global future themes, such as technology and innovation, nature and sustainability, and the international community.

The "Life Guardian" by the Romanian studio Les Ateliers Nomad transforms the Berlin TV Tower into a robotic spaceship, protecting our life's wealth—the Earth's ecosystem—and transporting it to where we need it.

Ukraine's Magic Innovation studio presents "The Life of Bees," showcasing an imaginative world of flowers with dancing bees taking selfies.

In "The Life Machine" by MoMap studio from Spain, immense energy is transformed into water, where new life can be created and extinct species can be recreated.

MP Studio's "Message to the World" uses uppercase letters to call for unity, solidarity, and tolerance, reminding us of our inseparable connection with nature.

In re:sorb's "Symbiosis," light illuminates the TV tower from within, growing upward in color and interconnecting, thereby symbolically demonstrating the growth and cohesion of innovation and society.

Artwork/Design:

Message to the World – MP Studio / BGR
Symbiosis – re:sorb / DEU
The Life Machine – MoMap / ESP
Life Guardian – Les Ateliers Nomad / ROU
The Life of Bees – Magic Innovations / UKR

Key works by several artists powerfully concentrated the message and diversity of this year's Festival of Lights on Berlin's most famous landmark, the Brandenburg Gate. Three renowned Ukrainian video studios were also invited. They created their visions of the future specifically for the festival.

4U, which has a double meaning: "for you" and "for Ukraine". In recent years, humanity has faced enormous challenges—first a pandemic, and now a war in Ukraine, which will lead to global changes worldwide and pose the risk of famine. It is unknown what further challenges await us all in the near future. We believe that if we unite and support each other, we can surely overcome all difficulties together and tide over the crisis.

Artwork/Design: JSX Graphics / UKR

The program tells a short story about the great friendship between the people of Ukraine and Germany, thanking the thousands of Ukrainians who have found shelter.

Artwork/Design: EuroVideoMapping / UKR-TUR-DEU

This program illustrates that the future of each of us is the future of all humanity. The future will address today's most pressing issues. The most important goals we face today—a harmonious and healthy society, the transition to green energy, technological development, unity, freedom, and peace. We will surely achieve them together.

Artwork/Design: Magic Innovations / UKR

Even in today's difficult times, we view the future of humanity with optimism. But what choices will we make this morning? The program reveals the fundamental and most essential components of human civilization's progress and prosperity, and predicts their future forms. Look through the door to the future!

Artwork/Design: MP Studio / BGR

Lavazza has represented Italian coffee tradition for over 125 years. And treats people and nature responsibly. In its 3D video program, the work showcases the world of the sustainable product line Lavazza ¡Tierra!, which represents the Italian coffee roaster's holistic approach to sustainability.

Art is always about freedom; if it is not free, it cannot flourish. Like the Brandenburg Gate, the work "Blue Horizon" represents crossing borders and solidarity.

Artwork/Design: Leon Löwentraut / GER

The Baroque facade of Charlottenburg Palace serves as an impressive backdrop for unique 3D video art during every festival. This year, four sets of such works are on display.

TURISMO DE TENERIFE showcases the extraordinary charm of Tenerife to the audience through exquisite 3D video programs. This is because there are 43 nature reserves on the Spanish island, accounting for almost half of the land area. The island's DNA is highly diverse, featuring impressive volcanic landscapes, beaches of different colors, and whales and dolphins within the protected areas. With the help of lighting, Turismo de Tenerife creates visual stimulation that immediately evokes your emotions, making you want to visit this beautiful island.

With the help of complex 3D animations and artificial intelligence, the facade of Charlottenburg Palace presents a futuristic vision. A hypnotic journey into the future, a realm of infinite possibilities. Here, the computer is not just a tool, but also a creative creator. The show inspires dreams and raises questions: Is the digital revolution and the emergence of artificial intelligence merely a natural continuation of evolution? How long will it take to reach the next stage of development, until the emergence of digital consciousness and new artificial personalities?

Art/Design: re:sorb / GER

They spent an afternoon jointly sketching their dreams for the future, which are now allowed to be showcased to a wide audience as small light art installations during the lighting festival on the majestic castle facade. The entire lighting festival team is especially proud of this event!

Artwork/Design: Kamil (11 years), Alva (8 years), Maksim (7 years), Sascha (7 years), Alusha (7 years), Maja (6 years), Clara (7 years)

Resonance describes the phenomenon of increased amplitude that occurs when the frequency of an applied periodic force is at or near the natural frequency of the system it acts upon. This program checks for vibrational forces acting at the resonant frequency of a dynamic motion imaging system.

Artwork/Design: MP Studio / BGN

A legendary and magical moment: the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates participated in the Festival of Lights for the first time alongside the Embassy of the State of Israel. Through a 3D video projection on the facade of the Hotel de Rome, they set a symbol of peace and international understanding. The show first immerses viewers in the respective worlds of the partner countries, showcasing architecture, nature, art, and modern life. Finally, it highlights the shared path toward the future, celebrating the newly established diplomatic relations through the peace agreements concluded in 2020, thereby bringing one of the most important values to the forefront: peace.

Let us take you through the mysteries of the solar system to uncover the insights behind it. This is a vivid and exciting journey through space, as each planet serves as a waypoint on humanity's path to the future. It is a pioneering journey to the stars and into our hearts, because it holds the answers essential to our survival.

Artwork/Design: Susan Gurnee / USA

Art/Design: re:sorb / GER

The video display on the Pankow Town Hall tower is colorful and vibrant, before the cheerful flowers gradually transition into a rather strict stage of architectural structures. The opposite Rathaus Center Pankow made the installation possible.

Since opening in 1997, the KulturKaufhaus on Friedrichstraße has been Germany's largest media department store and a place full of stories that has won the hearts of many. To mark its 25th anniversary, "love letters" were collected from customers and employees throughout the year, with the most beautiful quotes displayed on the exterior walls of the KulturKaufhaus.

The International Nature Film Festival GREEN SCREEN is Europe's most popular festival for outstanding nature documentaries. Since 2007, the festival has been held annually in Eckernförde on the Baltic Sea. GREEN SCREEN firmly believes that species can only be preserved in their intact environments if people of all ages are aware of the beauty of nature and sensitive to its growing dangers.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS impressively showcases the highlights of this year's GREEN SCREEN Festival. The video features close-ups of animal and human eyes, repeatedly conveying intense emotions.

Art/Design: GREEN SCREEN Naturfilmfestival Eckernförde / DEU

"What are your wishes for the future?" The children of the State Opera Unter den Linden Children's Choir answered this question to the Festival of Lights team. Your ideas, dreams, and fantasies can be found on the wishing tree, which can be admired as a photo on the magnificent facade of the opera house.

The former Royal Library, commonly known as the Kommode. Today it houses the Faculty of Law of Humboldt University of Berlin. During festivals, the magnificent facade showcases its splendor with intense, bright colors and an architectural stage.

In recent years, the historic Nikolaiviertel has proven to be an attractive destination. Indeed: because many beautiful motifs and photo spots in the center of Berlin, as well as the charming streets of Nikolaiviertel, create an unparalleled "match".This year, the unique character of Nikolaiviertel will be showcased, with its romantic little streets lined with interesting shops, cafés, and restaurants, making this historic place "simply magical".

The corner building with the prominent "Nikolaiviertel" lettering is staged as the "Gateway to Nikolaiviertel." The static theme deliberately evokes Diagon Alley from the "Harry Potter" novels, except that St. Nicholas Church stands at the end of the alley.

Light art installations bring former residents of the historic city center to life. Under ultraviolet light, wire-bent figures sprayed with fluorescent paint appear vividly like ghosts. These translucent figures blend into the surrounding environment, making the old town part of the artwork. Stylized numbers evoke three-dimensional line drawings.

"When people are forced to leave their cities, they not only leave behind their homes, possessions, schools, favorite toys, friends, and neighbors... They also leave behind their skin, organs, and memories. These become radiant silhouettes. They walk, whispering only one thing: My light is your light...".

Through his installation, artist Alaa Minawi pays tribute to refugees. In his interpretation, every individual, after fleeing, becomes a radiant figure whose story shines brightly anywhere in the world. Hardship and hope are two aspects equally emphasized by the artist. Six human-shaped statues made from custom neon tubes represent a family that has been on the road for years. Dad, mom, grandfather, an aunt, and two children. Their paths intersect with those of passersby.

Artwork/Design: Alaa Minawi / LBN-PSE-NLD

The artwork "WITH LOVE FROM NIKOLAIVIERTEL" appears directly in front of the new fish restaurant "Fischer & Lustig" at Poststraße 26, a 4.50-meter-high bright red, illuminated heart.

The spectacular Lightbattle III is located directly at Potsdamer Platz station. The work offers a new way to experience the Dutch cultural asset of the bicycle. Three bicycles face each other on three interactive arcs. Sit down and compete! Depending on each person's cycling speed, the lighting gradually enhances the color of the arches.

Artwork/Design: Joost van Bergen, Dirk Schlebusch and Onne Walsmit / Venividimultiplex / NLD

The Festival of Lights transforms the passageway of the historic Haus Huth at Potsdamer Platz into a fluorescent tunnel. On the walls of the passage from Alte Potsdamer Straße to Fontaneplatz, colorful plants intertwine, catching the eye.

Art/Design: Jana Müller / GER

In bouquets approximately six meters high, several clusters composed of three elegant flowers are distributed around Potsdamer Platz. During the day, they extend their beautifully shaped white petals toward the sun. At night, dynamic lighting effects bring them to life. The magical flowers shimmer with subtle nuances of different colors, revealing more magnetic light and shadow .

Artwork/Design: TILT / FRA

Bright poppies adorn the west entrance of The Playce shopping mall. They float lightly, a dancing sea of light, welcoming or bidding farewell to people coming and going.

Artwork/Design: PITAYA / FRA

What do you think the caterpillar and the snail are discussing? We don't know. But if you listen carefully, perhaps you will find out. In any case, these two impressive artworks, nearly five meters tall, create a sense of comfort and enrich the festive atmosphere at Potsdamer Platz.

Hans Christian Andersen's magical fairy tale "The Wild Swans" finally comes to life on the artificial lake. A set of artistically designed LED swan formations creates a water ballet of light and sound. Autonomously controlled by GPS, they glide poetically across the dark water, creating a magical atmosphere.

Artwork/Design: LOOMALAND / GER

Note: Performances must not be conducted during heavy rain or high wind speeds!

Three Luminéoles, imaginary luminous birds, poetically floating in the night, their long and elegant wings gently gliding through the darkness, dancing with the wind. They offer visitors a unique spectacle of color and movement. They transform public spaces, immersing audiences with their own imagination in a poetic and magical atmosphere.

Art/Design: Gali May Lucas (draft)/GBR & Karoline Hinz (sculptor)/DEU