In the midst of winter, light festivals often offer a bit of light in the darkness – literally, that is. They are the perfect way of escaping the darkness and the cold, while enjoying a night out on your own, with your friends or with your loved ones. And just like everything in this world, light festivals keep on reinventing themselves, using new technologies. That certainly goes for the sixth edition of the triennial Ghent Light Festival in 2024, which will feature drones and Artificial Intelligence.
The new edition of the event was presented on Tuesday, November 28th, and promises to be good and refreshing. As always, both national and international artists figure on the program. A work by Spanish artist SpY on the Schipperskaai will be at the center of the light festival, while many local organisations will participate as well.
Another highlight will without a doubt be the work of the European Space Agency, which will use augmented reality to show how satellite images have the ability to help humankind. Meanwhile, the company Fisheye, based in Ghent, will shoot messages from visitors into space in Morse code. Drone Racing Flanders is developing an installation in collaboration with Brandweerzone Gent and numerous other installations will be ready for the public to be discovered from January 31st until February 4th.
In total, the route will count no less than 32 stops, which you can discover on your own or with a guide. Ghent Light Festival is free for everyone and takes place in the city center of Ghent, including places such as the Graslei and Korenlei canals, Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and Belfry Tower. Areas such as the Baudelopark and the Dampoort district figure on the program as well.
Within the light festival, Night of the Darkness stands out as a special event. For the duration of one night on February 1st 2024, all lights in the city will be turned off, giving visitors an idea of what it once was like to roam Ghent’s streets after nightfall. Combining the Night of Darkness with the light installations, the festival makes for the perfect contrast, showing you the impact of light on how we experience the world.
