2020
Traditionally, the area around Potsdamer Platz becomes a shining stage for international light art in the Festival of Lights. The area, which stretches from the Pianosee on the southwest edge over the Alte Potsdamer Straße with the Weinhaus Huth to the main square with its historic traffic lights, has a lot to offer for light-loving strollers again this year. Under this year’s motto “Together We Shine”, the Festival of Lights would like to set a shining example together with international artists.
For example, the two light sculptures “L.O.V.E.” and “Unity”, which are among the significant highlights of the festival, tower up into the sky at the two central squares. The Australian artist collaboration of Pineapple Design Studio & Chimera Atelier created the four and a half meter high works. They are shaped like a heart and a handshake and are visible to visitors from afar. The Australians are passionate about lighting and materials. With their luminous sculptures, they want to bring people together and enchant people who have shared experiences. Unity on Marlene-Dietrich-Platz and L.O.V.E. These imaginative moments create these imaginative moments on Potsdamer Platz.
Other attractions in the area are the installation “Blossoms” by the French artist studio Pitaya, known from many international light festivals. One hundred and forty large-format flowers in different colors adorn the treetops in Alte Potsdamer Strasse. As well as the installation “Swan Dance” by the Berlin artists Denis Bivour & Florian Giefer (Loomaland). Luminous swans glide over the piano lake. The ensemble has already been a guest at the international festival of lights in Lucerne with its picturesque water dances and is now providing magical moments at Marlene-Dietrich-Platz.
At the entrance to the arcades on Alte Potsdamer Straße you can also see the large-format mural by street artist Millo. The Italian artist Francesco Camillo Giorgino paints large-format murals on which friendly residents explore their urban surroundings. He uses simple black and white lines with a few bold accents of color and often incorporates elements of architecture into his multi-story paintings. In his new work “In the Aftermath of Everything There is Still Something” he addresses the idea of the rebirth of a city district. A suitable work for Berlin and also the area around Potsdamer Platz.
The facade of the Stage Theater on Marlene-Dietrich-Platz was the scene of various works of art in Berlin, from street art and graphic design to lively, abstract art. In combination with floral and oriental motifs, the works of art form an extraordinary canvas for all visitors to the Festival of Lights. Individuality has its place here. The works of art come from: Thierry Noir, AktONE, Cren, Andreas Preis, Ernesto Rodriguez, Archan Nair, KEF !, Gala Sascha, Jan Kuck & Hans Peter Adamski.
In the Varian-Fry-Straße, Berliners and their guests can fortify themselves at a specially set up street food market before setting off and visiting the other neighborhoods at this year’s festival. The magical figure of light DUNDU is expected on two evenings during the first weekend. DUNDU has become the mascot of the Berlin Festival of Lights and should of course not be missing in the special 2020 edition. He will explore Potsdamer Platz on September 12th and 13th and stroll through the streets and the quarter with the strollers.
More about the city tours and the works of art on the Festival of Lights website and www.potsdamerplatz.de.
2019
20 Years of Potsdamer Platz
The Potsdamer Platz was celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2018 and became a total artwork in the context of the 14th FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS! The large buildings with their elaborate large-scale projections transformed into an unique panorama staging and became one of the highlights of this year’s festival edition.
The “World Championship of Projection Mapping” competition took place on the Kollhoff Tower, in the middle of Potsdamer Platz. The Forum Tower, the BahnTower, the Ritz Carlton, the P5 and the Canadian Embassy also spectacularly lit up. The various light art objects played with the impressive facets of modern art.
“4th World Championship of Projection Mapping“ at the Kollhoff-Tower
The International Festival of Lights Championship in Projection Mapping entered the fourth round. After the Brandenburg Gate, the TV tower and, last year, the Berlin Cathedral, the Kollhoff Tower at the Potsdamer Platz 1 was the venue for this important international competition. The result was an impressive show. In a ten-minute 3D video mapping, six international artists from six nations demonstrated their creativity, their skills and their experience in a gigantic video mapping on the facade of the Kollhoff Tower under the motto “New Dimension of Architecture” . In this 14th Festival of Lights, the well-known building in Berlin transformed into a 90 meter high and 10 meter wide screen. The Kollhoff Tower became the stage on which illusions fuse the past, present and future into a comprehensive experience for the audience. The winner was determined by the audience. Personal favourites could be selected by online voting on www.fol-awards.de. Vote was open until the 13th of October at 24 o’clock. The result was announced on the last day of the festival.
Further illuminations at the Potsdamer Platz
As in previous years, the Pianosee and Alte Potsdamer Straße provided the stage for a special light spectacle. Water features and lights created a magical atmosphere on the Pianosee. The video mapping “Aguaviva” in front of the Haus Huth showed a mysteriously beautiful woman’s face: its brilliant white surroundings contrast with a bright red of water lilies and carnations – and made the “living water”, the translation of the Spanish title, even more mysterious.
The wonderful floor projection on Potsdamer Platz completed the experience at Potsdamer Platz. The Ritz-Carlton, the Forum Tower, the BahnTower, the P5 and the Canadian Embassy were also part of the overall staging.
The complete Video Mapping Show
20 years Potsdamer Platz was presented by:
