Light art installation by Philipp Geist
The city centre all around Cologne Cathedral is set to be transformed into a light-filled dream realm. Light artist Philipp Geist will project words, phrases, characters, colours and shapes onto the pavement before the Cathedral portal and onto Roncalli Square as well as across the façades of the buildings flanking Cologne's famous landmark: the Dom Forum and the Romano-Germanic Museum.
The projections will take up the theme of time and space as well as desires, expectations and hopes for the future and resolutions for the New Year. Hundreds of Cologne residents contributed to the light show by sending their own personal catchwords for 2017.
Mayor Henriette Reker expresses her sincere thanks to all:
The citizens of Cologne are involved in the project, they will actively design the area during New Year's Eve.
As the light flickers across it, the solid ground around the Cathedral suddenly seems to be drifting. An exhilarating, moving space of experience opens up. Meanwhile, the monumental Cologne Cathedral watches over it all solid as a rock amidst the streams of images and visitors surging at its feet.
"Time Drifts Cologne" is the title of a light show designed for the long night between the old and new years. The people will find themselves making their way through a stream of rippling signs, "drifting" past the vast illuminated images and responding to fascinating luminous spaces. In this space of experience made of light, shadows, colours and letters, they can viscerally experience the flow of time. Alone or in groups, young or old, they can stroll as "Time Drifters" along the projected beams on their way through their very own personal New Year's Eve.
"Time Drifts Cologne" is an "urban Intervention" conceived as a site-specific interpretation of the "genius loci" of the area around the Cathedral. The immersive light show holds viewers in its thrall while opening up to them new horizons of experience. Ethereal sounds enhance the sensual and meditative spatial experience.
The projection will begin with the onset of darkness in the afternoon, around 5:00 p.m. Barriers with admissions control and bag checks will ensure the safety of visitors in the spacious area. Carrying fireworks is of course strictly prohibited.
Organizer: City of Cologne, Events Department Artist: Philipp Geist, Berlin: www.videogeist.de, where image downloads are available to the press Curator: Helmut M. Bien: www.westermann-kommunikation.de The projection will begin with the onset of darkness in the afternoon, around 5:00 p.m. Barriers with admissions control and bag checks will ensure the safety of visitors in the spacious area. Carrying fireworks is of course strictly prohibited.