Berliners also refer to it colloquially as Opernplatz, the 19,000 square metre Bebelplatz in the centre of Berlin. It is framed by buildings such as St Hedwig’s Cathedral, the Faculty of Law, the Hotel de Rome and the State Opera House Unter den Linden, all of which were part of a unique 180-degree light art production on the festival motto VISION OF OUR FUTURE.

A legendary and magical moment: For the first time, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the Embassy of the State of Israel took part in the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS together. With the 3D video show on the facade of the Hotel de Rome, they set a sign of peace and international understanding. The show first immersed itself in the respective world of the partner country, showing architecture, nature, art and living modernity. Finally, it emphasised the common path into the future, celebrated the newly created diplomatic connection through the peace agreement concluded in 2020 and thus brought one of the most important values to the fore: peace.

In another mapping on the Hotel de Rome, the artists Ross Ashton & Karen Monid addressed the so-called “butterfly effect” on the occasion of the “Future Vision Award”. This states that even small actions can have very large effects.

A special video experience also awaited Berliners and their guests at the Festival of Lights 2018. The motto for the mapping on the Hotel de Rome this year was “The Freedom of Art – Between Dream and Reality”.

Their visions were provided by two renowned video artists, the Englishman Ross Ashton, whose artistic light and sound installations have already been seen around the world, and the Polish artist Pani Pawlosky.

Under the motto “Opera e Luce”, the entire Bebelplatz was illuminated: Thus, the projection of the Hotel de Rome was extended to the Löbbecke banking house to impress with a dazzling panorama. We were also very pleased to welcome St Hedwig’s Cathedral for the first time with a colourful projection.