Alley of Light II
In 2024, ‘Alley of Light’ was finally shown in the Netherlands again, ten years after its premiere at the Amsterdam Light Festival in 2014 (view). This time the light installation could be viewed in the Grote Kerk of Apeldoorn, during the Royal Light Festival. King William I financed the construction of this church in 1842, which was located exactly halfway between Het Loo Palace and the centre. During the light festival, 15.000 visitors walked through the installation.
Alley of Light is a spatial art installation by Serge Schoemaker Architects & DigiLuce. It consists of a three-dimensional matrix of 2000 handmade lights. Running through the centre of the matrix is a twelve-metre-long “alley” which visitors can walk through. The spatial experience in this passage constantly evolves due to the flowing light waves moving through the artwork. The on-site experience is complemented by a soundscape created by Rutger Zuydervelt.
Each light in the matrix is individually controlled continuously changing in intensity. The follow an algorithm specifically designed for this work. The resulting light movements create a unique spatial experience: when all lights are lit, the alley appears enclosed and intimate; as soon as the lights dim, the space becomes fluid and the borders of the alley start to fade.
The matrix of 2000 LED lights measures ten by twelve metres and is four metres high. The installation hangs in a truss structure, composed of 320 vertically tensioned cables, each supporting six lights. A total of 1.5 kilometres of wiring is required for the power supply and control of the light installation.
After its premiere at the Amsterdam Light Festival in 2014, Alley of Light was showcased in different countries. It was part of the Norrköping Light Festival in Sweden (2015), the Sea World International Light Festival in Shenzhen, China (2016), and Staro Riga in Latvia (2017). In 2019, the light artwork was exhibited by the renowned Lugano Arte e Cultura (LAC) in Switzerland.
Design: Serge Schoemaker Architects
Engineering: DigiLuce
Design team: Serge Schoemaker, Beatrice Nespega
Production team: Serge Schoemaker, Luuk van Laake | Alexander Beeloo, Gonçalo Moreira, Roxana Vakil Mozafari et al. (2014); Miksa Albert, Lennart Barnhard, Maiara Camilotti. Farimah Chaman Zadeh, Fatemeh Mahmoudyar, César Salas et al. (2019); Maiara Camilotti, Lara Fehimovic (2024).
Thanks to: Aukes Theatertechniek, MHElektro and HellermannTyton
Photography: MWA Hart Nibbrig, Jorrit Lousberg (Royal Light Festival 2024)
