Cologne University of Media Arts

“opposable thumb 정위엄지” symbolizes the starting point of human civilization, as the ability to grasp and create tools enabled both cultural progress and destructive power. This project reflects on that dual history and envisions a future of regeneration and coexistence born from repeated trials and errors.

Lejla Demiri is a writer, architect and filmmaker with a bold, multicultural perspective shaped by her life across Europe. With a foundation in architecture, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to narratives that explore displacement, identity and human connection. Her work also delves into female rage, collective trauma and commplex relationships. A self-described maladaptive dreamer, she transforms the intangible into evocative, character-driven stories.

We want to show visuals that create something; energies that connect rather than divide!

“Shining Together” transforms the Oberbaum Bridge into a pulsating artery of life. Organic drops merge, grow into playful lines, and evolve into glowing and living organisms. A sharp, constricting form threatens to break them apart, but the released drops form a luminous synapse-like network that dissolves the barrier. Finally, a vibrant, pulsating mesh spreads across the bridge, culminating in the message: “Shining Together.”
The work speaks of vulnerability and resilience, of division and overcoming – and celebrates what defines Berlin at its core: unity and the power of shining together. Its visual style is urban, vibrant and digitally hand-drawn, based on a modern, colorful design language that reflects the city’s energy.

Jens Standke (born in Georgsmarienhütte in 1982) is a media artist and designer working between Osnabrück and Cologne. After training as a media designer and studying media arts at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, he graduated with honors in 2013 and was awarded the Cologne Design Prize 2013.He works in the fields of motion design, 3D animation, and experimental media art. His video works have been part of numerous theater, concert, and media art projects, which have been presented at the Beethovenfest, the Donaueschinger Musiktagen, the Kunstmuseum Bonn, the European Media Art Festival, Ars Electronica, and on television, among others.

Together does not necessarily mean physically together.

We often go through life in our own “boxes,” focused on our work, routines, and personal challenges. It can feel like we’re on our own. But in reality, society is made up of individuals who are quietly connected—through the roles we play, the work we do, and the ways we affect one another. Each of us contributes in small but important ways that are unique. And when we recognize those around us—when our efforts and energy connect—we create something stronger and more meaningful than we ever could alone.

Being part of something bigger means understanding that our actions ripple outward. Whether you’re a teacher, delivery worker, nurse, engineer, or student—what you do matters. You may not always see the impact, but it’s there: supporting others, filling gaps, keeping systems moving, and helping people live better lives. It means showing up, not just for yourself, but knowing you’re part of a shared effort.

Suheun is a mixed media artist interested in realities. She likes to deploy discomfort caused by things that exhibit both “real” and “fake” qualities in her works.

She studied political science and psychology at Yonsei University in Seoul, which shaped her interest in perception and belief. She began her art practice at L’Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Montpellier and later moved to Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln to focus on media art.

“Glow”: The overarching theme of the 2025 Lightfestival: “Let’s shine together” is a reminder of a shared community. It’s about acknowledging the network we’re part of, and choosing to light up our part of it. When we all do that—each from our own place—we help the whole system glow.