Want to see a medieval town get transformed into a playground of lights? Then get yourself down to Torun in Poland pronto for the Bella Skyway Festival. The festival lasts for five days until August 30.
The installations, created by artists from around the world, make astounding use of space and technology that turn most of Torun’s UNESCO-approved city centre into a playground of illuminations. Here’s a look at just some of what’s on offer.
Galaxy Gallery – Mariano Light, Italy
The centrepiece of the festival occupies most of Szeroka Street, the busiest part of the city. The rows of arches light up in time with various pieces of music that come out of speakers where the street meets the old town square. The tunes chosen to be co-ordinated with the cavalcade of colour consist of a mix of opera and, most awesome of all, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
The TV Trope – Pekka Stokke, Marcelo Vidal & Alexander Rishaug, Norway
Using the southern side of the highly-respected Horzycy Theatre as a backdrop, the TV Trope uses 3D mapping to create geometric shapes that wind their way around the building’s elegant shape and seem to repaint it.
The House of the Two Doors – Andre Banha, Portugal
This mini-wooden maze lends itself well to its spot underneath the Crooked Tower.
Cosmopolis Fountain – a permanent attraction in Torun that fits right in with the Bella Skyway Festival
Phosphor 360 ver. B – pebe/lab, Czech Republic
Six bizarre hexagonal shapes that look like they’ve just fallen from space sit hidden in the recesses of the ruins of the old Dominican Church. The way they flicker green and blue in isometric patterns creates a mysterious alien scene.
Simulacrum – Macula, Czech Republic
The Collegium Maximum building has been transformed into an ode to the science-fiction writer Stanislaw Lem. Scenes of space exploration, galactic stereo systems, planets rolling straight into the crowd, and a giant videogame are all combined to create one of the most stunning installations of the festival.
The Globe – Evy E. Almas, Norway
Let Nature Be Your Energy – Marit B. Olsen, Norway
This figure slowly glowing bright and dark with blue light was very popular for photo opportunities in Rapacki Park.
Nexus – Art4Media, Poland
The Nexus project uses the newest forms of 3D mapping technology along with real-life dancers who interact with the melding shapes around them. The effect is both playful and striking, particularly when the dancers run towards a giant sun, play with the mechanism of a clock, or fight a swooping computerised crow.
The Way – Liliana Kaczorowska, Poland
Across the hillocks and lawn of Rapacki Park, there lies The Way, an eerie path illuminated by ultra-violet that gives off the impression of snow in summer.
Even the hoodies light up for Bella Skyway
Rosa Winkel – Liliana Piskorska, Poland
This bizarre triangle filled with sticky red paint attracted a lot of attention, particularly when people started wondering how to wash their hands in the middle of Hope Valley Park.
The Urban Jungle – Bogumil Palewicz, Poland
This ode to evolution and nature and its exploitation by mankind looked incredible lit up against a vertical wall of water. Fountains and other lights went off all around in this small lake in Hope Valley Park, while Hans Zimmer’s Time, also known as the theme to Inception, was used as the musical backdrop.
It’s So Ugly! – Justyna Jaworka, Poland
This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it drain is hidden in the New Town Square. It appears to be a murky ode to the network of canals that the city of Torun was built upon.
Lightly-Sticky – Katarzyna Stepien, Poland
This delightful spill of cotton-wool-like foam, lights up a corner of Mieszczanski Court with all the wonder of a cloud.
Under One Small Star – Het Pakt, Belgium
This haunting installation in the street by the Crooked Tower is made up of laundry with video projections of people sleeping. In crevices all along the street, small portraits and electric candles sit beside speakers where voices murmur strange stories of forgotten pasts.
Szeroka Street – Slawomir Majoch
As well as the permanent installations, every night of the festival includes special events such as firework jugglers, live concerts and even a “luminous biking” race. Take a look at the Bella Skyway Festival website for full details of how Torun is being transformed.
This ancient picturesque city in Kujawsko-Pomorskie county gets swamped with people who travel for miles to see the creative delights on show, particularly as it only lasts five days. So get your skates on if you want to see the lights in all their glory. It’s what Keanu Reeves would want:
Find out more about the city and how to get there with our handy guide to Torun.
