Fête des Lumières

In 2021, Fête des Lumières approached us with an interest in our collection. For our relatively young organization, being invited to become part of a light festival with such a long, prestigious history is no small achievement.

It was an opportunity that we found irresistible. We were proud to showcase our pieces alongside a thoughtfully curated selection of 30 installations by leading lights of the contemporary light art world. Over the course of four days, over 300,000 people attended Fête des Lumieres in 2021, marking both the festival and our partnership as a resounding success.

All the more reason for us to return to Fête des Lumières in 2023, bringing a centerpiece from our collection that’s sure to be a highlight of the season: Sign by Vendel & De Wolf. This showstopper was very popular amongst the visitors. The work popped up in the festival’s satisfaction survey with many positive reactions.

Medieval origins, contemporary luminaries

Every year, special attention is paid by Fête des Lumières to find the perfect location for each of our pieces. Take Flight! by Ralf Westerhof soared above the banks of the Saône river, while Aftereal by Yasuhiro Chida cast a hundred luminous waves of light across the Place Antonin Poncet, a historic square that was once home to Lyon’s second biggest hospital.

Few can claim to be one of the oldest light festivals in the world. That distinction belongs to Fête des Lumières, which traces its roots back to 1643, when it began as a candlelit procession giving thanks to Mary, the Mother of God, for sparing Lyon from the plague that was ravaging Europe at the time. It has since evolved into the mother of all light festivals, and a true benchmark in the world of contemporary light art.