Interview: Aleksandra Stratimirovic, program director of the festival ''Belgrade of light''
The majority of programs at the Belgrade festival of light will take place in public locations so that everybody can get the chance to enjoy the sight of numerous light installments and music line-up. We want to raise the level of light culture in our community by educating as many people as possible. Whoever is into this topic is welcome to participate in interesting workshops and a seminar and contribute to the Belgrade of light 2010...
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The festival dedicated to the culture of light - Belgrade of Light, is going to be organized by Cultural front, from September 9th until 16th. On several sites in Belgrade downtown area, the third year in a row, experts, students, pupils as well as entire public are going to witness the gift of September. Belgrade folks will be introduced to the artists and designers from Italy, Germany, Portugal, France, Sweden, Austria and Serbia, through five pillars of programming: Glow from the Dark, Shimmering, Light-up Guerilla, Lighting detectives and Facing the Bright Future.
Aleksandra Stratimirović, an initiator and a program director of the festival Belgrade of Light 2010, speaks for WAVE magazine about the project idea, the light phenomenon, what artistic form is going to be presented, what is the way of working of Belgrade Lighting Detectives, and how Novi Beograd (New Belgrade) inspires them.
First of all, how did you come up with the idea of the Culture of LIGHT? Belgrade hasn't experienced anything similar so far.
- We came up with the idea for this event after we had realized the need of establishing a platform for creative exchange and open discussion on light, lighting craft, a unique lighting identity of Belgrade. That is a rather broad field and the concept itself embodies art, design, architecture and variety of other fields. From the very beginning we noticed a great interest of public in this initiative.
After cooperation with the Transnational Lighting Detectives for years, work with students from all over the place, initiation of the festival Svetlobna gverila in Ljubljana, I set on the adventurous journey called Belgrade of Light, in cooperation with the Cultural front Belgrade and Belgrade Lighting Detectives.
Three workshops are to be held from September 9th till 16th. The first on the agenda is Lighting techniques: scene remake. What is its main idea?
- The aim of the workshop isfamiliarizing the participants with a lighting technique through the engagement on the lighting scene creation. The participants' work is based on the study of light as a modeling medium, an emotional trigger and a visual message conveyor. The focus will be on the placing the lighting instruments with the aim of reproduction the lighting ambients on some of the famous movie or painting scenes.
The opening lecture on the light sources and the types of stage lights will be given by Svetislav Calić, a light designer in Jugoslovensko dramsko pozoriste (Yugoslavian Drama Theatre). Nebojša Radivojević, a light designer from Belgrade and a member ofBelgrade Lighting Detectives, is going to be a workshop mentor.
"The Art of VJ-ing" which is a relatively new artistic form is going to be presented in the second workshop. What is it about?
- VJ-ing is a recent artistic form whose popularity is skyrocketing, evolving on clubbing podiums around the globe, fostered with the technology development. The term VJ-ing stands for an improvisation with the visual, particularly with visuals projected with lights. VJ (-ing) is an equivalent to DJ (-ing).
During the festival we will be organizing live workshops of visual performing. The goal of a workshop is to provide basic knowledge on live visual performing as well as the introduction to the creation of one's own video archives. Nino Strohecker, a video artist from Austria is going to be a workshop presenter. He lives in Stockholm and he is one of the founders of the first Swedish VJ community - VJ Union.
The third workshop within the programming pillar Lighting Detectives named 'SOHO-Novi Beograd' is bound to represent another side of Belgrade also known as big dormitory. How does it depict globalization traces?
- Novi Beograd is quite interesting. It was patterned on the world megalopolises. From the very beginning it was in a way neglected which caused its creation of subculture and broad-street-identity clearly demarcating globalization marks. Traces of history, transition and new transformation are unavoidable and distinct. Predrag Stojićević will help us use our lighting detective eyes and unveil some details which we haven't noticed till now.
Those who participate in the program will be given the chance to experience panoramic view of Belgrade in the night followed with a designer talk. What should they expect? Does a night in Belgrade offer more advantages than a day?
- To see a panorama of Belgrade in the night is as important as seeing it during the day. We want to prompt visitors to pay closer attention to this appearance of Belgrade too. We aim to inspire and motivate others to discuss on unique light identity of Belgrade, to inspire a conservation and a cultivation of cultural, architectural, urban and social values of this city. We want to signal the need of more sensible approach to lighting. I participated in similar project touring students in Stockholm, Beijing, Copenhagen and Singapore. Reactions are surprisingly good and everybody is amazed after gaining a new impression of their city. Our guide in the panorama of Belgrade tour isPredrag Stojićević, a light designer.
Belgrade Lighting Detectives are the seventh lighting agency in the world and they participate in this festival. What does their concept of work look like? How similar are they to their global colleagues?
- Belgrade Lighting Detectives was established in 2006. Being number seven world lighting agency, they also promote the idea of cultivating and developing the culture of light. They are a part of the Belgrade of Light organizational crew. The parent organizationTransnational Lighting Detectives whose initiator and founder is Japanese light designer Kaoru Mende was established in Tokyo in 1990. That is a non-profit organization and it brings together professionals and those who are interested in lighting and experimenting with light in architectural context. From 2001 the organization has set out their offices in other cities worldwide with centers in Stockholm, New York City, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Singapore, Beijing and Belgrade.
The organization aims at popularization of the culture of light locally and globally. The TLD symposium is held annually and that is a place where experiences are exchanged and events with local members are organized. Otherwise, each centre is independent and responsible for its activities. The achievements of Belgrade Lighting Detectives were presented in symposiums in Singapore (2006), Copenhagen (2007) and Beijing (2009).
How many people go in for lighting phenomenon in Serbia and Belgrade? Do you plan on having some guest presenters on the festival?
- Certainly, there are people who are engaged in the lighting field. Young professionals usually have more sensible approach to this phenomenon. Majority takes part in the Belgrade Lighting Detectivesactivities and the organization of Belgrade of Light. As for the guest lecturers, I would like to mention Bettina Pelz from Germany, an independent custodian and the initiator of the GLOW and LichtRouten festivals, Catja Thystrup from Copenhagen, a director of Illumennarts gallery and the manifestation Řrestad Culture Days and Patrick Rimoux, a renowned French artist whose expertise is lighting.
Are there any plans for 2011? Should we expect the festival to be organized again?
- It is our strong desire to maintain this festival because we think that this is a significant event for Belgrade and Serbia. Belgrade of Lightaspires to grow bigger and more appealing. We have developed an excellent cooperation with European festivals and we work constantly on its strengthening. We strive for informing and educating a great number of people in order to succeed in raising the level of culture of light in our community and developing a collective conscience on this topic.
By IVANA SPASOJEVIC
published: http://www.wavemagazine.net/arhiva/47/culture/belgrade-of-light-2010.htm
The majority of programs at the Belgrade festival of light will take place in public locations so that everybody can get the chance to enjoy the sight of numerous light installments and music line-up. We want to raise the level of light culture in our community by educating as many people as possible. Whoever is into this topic is welcome to participate in interesting workshops and a seminar and contribute to the Belgrade of light 2010...
***
The festival dedicated to the culture of light - Belgrade of Light, is going to be organized by Cultural front, from September 9th until 16th. On several sites in Belgrade downtown area, the third year in a row, experts, students, pupils as well as entire public are going to witness the gift of September. Belgrade folks will be introduced to the artists and designers from Italy, Germany, Portugal, France, Sweden, Austria and Serbia, through five pillars of programming: Glow from the Dark, Shimmering, Light-up Guerilla, Lighting detectives and Facing the Bright Future.Aleksandra Stratimirović, an initiator and a program director of the festival Belgrade of Light 2010, speaks for WAVE magazine about the project idea, the light phenomenon, what artistic form is going to be presented, what is the way of working of Belgrade Lighting Detectives, and how Novi Beograd (New Belgrade) inspires them.
First of all, how did you come up with the idea of the Culture of LIGHT? Belgrade hasn't experienced anything similar so far.
- We came up with the idea for this event after we had realized the need of establishing a platform for creative exchange and open discussion on light, lighting craft, a unique lighting identity of Belgrade. That is a rather broad field and the concept itself embodies art, design, architecture and variety of other fields. From the very beginning we noticed a great interest of public in this initiative.
After cooperation with the Transnational Lighting Detectives for years, work with students from all over the place, initiation of the festival Svetlobna gverila in Ljubljana, I set on the adventurous journey called Belgrade of Light, in cooperation with the Cultural front Belgrade and Belgrade Lighting Detectives.
Three workshops are to be held from September 9th till 16th. The first on the agenda is Lighting techniques: scene remake. What is its main idea?- The aim of the workshop isfamiliarizing the participants with a lighting technique through the engagement on the lighting scene creation. The participants' work is based on the study of light as a modeling medium, an emotional trigger and a visual message conveyor. The focus will be on the placing the lighting instruments with the aim of reproduction the lighting ambients on some of the famous movie or painting scenes.
The opening lecture on the light sources and the types of stage lights will be given by Svetislav Calić, a light designer in Jugoslovensko dramsko pozoriste (Yugoslavian Drama Theatre). Nebojša Radivojević, a light designer from Belgrade and a member ofBelgrade Lighting Detectives, is going to be a workshop mentor.
"The Art of VJ-ing" which is a relatively new artistic form is going to be presented in the second workshop. What is it about?
- VJ-ing is a recent artistic form whose popularity is skyrocketing, evolving on clubbing podiums around the globe, fostered with the technology development. The term VJ-ing stands for an improvisation with the visual, particularly with visuals projected with lights. VJ (-ing) is an equivalent to DJ (-ing).
During the festival we will be organizing live workshops of visual performing. The goal of a workshop is to provide basic knowledge on live visual performing as well as the introduction to the creation of one's own video archives. Nino Strohecker, a video artist from Austria is going to be a workshop presenter. He lives in Stockholm and he is one of the founders of the first Swedish VJ community - VJ Union.
The third workshop within the programming pillar Lighting Detectives named 'SOHO-Novi Beograd' is bound to represent another side of Belgrade also known as big dormitory. How does it depict globalization traces?- Novi Beograd is quite interesting. It was patterned on the world megalopolises. From the very beginning it was in a way neglected which caused its creation of subculture and broad-street-identity clearly demarcating globalization marks. Traces of history, transition and new transformation are unavoidable and distinct. Predrag Stojićević will help us use our lighting detective eyes and unveil some details which we haven't noticed till now.
Those who participate in the program will be given the chance to experience panoramic view of Belgrade in the night followed with a designer talk. What should they expect? Does a night in Belgrade offer more advantages than a day?
- To see a panorama of Belgrade in the night is as important as seeing it during the day. We want to prompt visitors to pay closer attention to this appearance of Belgrade too. We aim to inspire and motivate others to discuss on unique light identity of Belgrade, to inspire a conservation and a cultivation of cultural, architectural, urban and social values of this city. We want to signal the need of more sensible approach to lighting. I participated in similar project touring students in Stockholm, Beijing, Copenhagen and Singapore. Reactions are surprisingly good and everybody is amazed after gaining a new impression of their city. Our guide in the panorama of Belgrade tour isPredrag Stojićević, a light designer.
Belgrade Lighting Detectives are the seventh lighting agency in the world and they participate in this festival. What does their concept of work look like? How similar are they to their global colleagues?
- Belgrade Lighting Detectives was established in 2006. Being number seven world lighting agency, they also promote the idea of cultivating and developing the culture of light. They are a part of the Belgrade of Light organizational crew. The parent organizationTransnational Lighting Detectives whose initiator and founder is Japanese light designer Kaoru Mende was established in Tokyo in 1990. That is a non-profit organization and it brings together professionals and those who are interested in lighting and experimenting with light in architectural context. From 2001 the organization has set out their offices in other cities worldwide with centers in Stockholm, New York City, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Singapore, Beijing and Belgrade.The organization aims at popularization of the culture of light locally and globally. The TLD symposium is held annually and that is a place where experiences are exchanged and events with local members are organized. Otherwise, each centre is independent and responsible for its activities. The achievements of Belgrade Lighting Detectives were presented in symposiums in Singapore (2006), Copenhagen (2007) and Beijing (2009).
How many people go in for lighting phenomenon in Serbia and Belgrade? Do you plan on having some guest presenters on the festival?
- Certainly, there are people who are engaged in the lighting field. Young professionals usually have more sensible approach to this phenomenon. Majority takes part in the Belgrade Lighting Detectivesactivities and the organization of Belgrade of Light. As for the guest lecturers, I would like to mention Bettina Pelz from Germany, an independent custodian and the initiator of the GLOW and LichtRouten festivals, Catja Thystrup from Copenhagen, a director of Illumennarts gallery and the manifestation Řrestad Culture Days and Patrick Rimoux, a renowned French artist whose expertise is lighting.
Are there any plans for 2011? Should we expect the festival to be organized again?
- It is our strong desire to maintain this festival because we think that this is a significant event for Belgrade and Serbia. Belgrade of Lightaspires to grow bigger and more appealing. We have developed an excellent cooperation with European festivals and we work constantly on its strengthening. We strive for informing and educating a great number of people in order to succeed in raising the level of culture of light in our community and developing a collective conscience on this topic.
By IVANA SPASOJEVIC
published: http://www.wavemagazine.net/arhiva/47/culture/belgrade-of-light-2010.htm
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