LIGHT | Light Will Tell a Story About Europe

The Heart of Europe. That is the name of a captivating project which will symbolically connect European countries in Prague by means of light installations. An interactive trail will present the landmarks of individual states and offer a view of Europeanness as a continual process of forming shared values. We talked about the exhibition, which follows on from earlier successful projects by DECOLED in the Czech Republic and abroad, with the company's owner and inspiring lady, Eva Poláčková.

You are creating more and more exhibitions for public space. How do you choose the individual themes, and what are you preparing for Prague after last year's successful exhibition about space?

We are expanding our activities in other countries too, and, with a touch of exaggeration, pushing boundaries in every sense. Paradoxically, it is our capacity limits that restrict the real ones. In other words, in some regions of Europe I have to decline commissions or postpone them to later years. And the heart of Europe is precisely the title of this year's exhibition in Prague. The story of Europe occurred to me last year as I was leaving the illuminated tree on the Old Town Square. First I recalled the depictions of Europe from the myths, and then it struck me how little we speak about what unites us and what Europeanness actually is. By that I mean above all everything that has shaped us. Pax Atlantica – like Pax Romana and Pax Christiana – points to the emergence of the shared values of Europe, which other countries besides the continent also share. The starting point is the four symbolic hills: Sinai, Golgotha, the Acropolis and the Capitol. That is why we decided on a rendering inspired by Greek myths. It is bound up with the journey to Europe, symbolised by the landmarks of particular countries. They will be linked by an interactive trail with various points of interest, intended to bring closer the idea of Europeanness as a continual process. All the hearts of Europe will converge in our own heart – in Prague. In this way we also want to connect the places in Europe where our light exhibitions will be.

That is interesting, especially in today's context of how Europe is perceived. It seems that with the exhibition you do not want merely to tell a story but also to offer some lesson.
Is that typical of your other exhibitions too?

Every exhibition is themed above all by the character of the place, whether we are telling of life at a chateau or of Empress Sisi. Some places are universal by nature, but it is always also about developing the story. We would like to push those boundaries I mentioned, for example through the way art is made and perceived, the degree of sophisticated interactivity in education and, of course, the originality of our brand's unique creation. We enter public space with light sensitively and in a cultivated way; we do not want merely to create light smog, but to start a conversation with visitors.

I was at the opening of the exhibition Stezka korunami stromů (Treetop Trail) and experienced its various dimensions together with the visitors. From the experience of an evening visit to its social and educational benefit… and all this with every consideration for the landscape. Thanks to our exhibitions people learn about some places – Špilberk, for instance – and some gain tourist appeal through them. So, in general, an exhibition supports local life and contributes to the development of the place.

Which interesting places do you plan to illuminate in Europe, and which can we perhaps visit?

We are entering further countries, and this year we are expanding the exhibitions in Hungary. Besides Gödöllő Palace near Budapest, we are preparing an installation at the magnificent Esterházy Palace and in the Hungarian towns of Győr, Pécs and Szolnok. We shall tell of medieval life at the most beautiful Croatian castle, Trakošćan, and for the first time we are staging an exhibition in Switzerland near Zurich, and also in Lower Austria beyond Vienna. We continue our exhibitions in Slovakia, in Košice, Komárno and Sereď, and also in Ireland, Germany and France. We are also extending the Treetop Trail exhibitions in Austria, Slovakia and Germany. I think exhibitions placed in the setting of castles and chateaux are especially exceptional. They captivate with their surroundings and also convey interesting facts about the country in question.

Do you have any experience of how cultural differences affect the use of light, as you travel across almost the whole of Europe?

Of course every landscape is different and, as in any other kind of art or activity, cultural patterns or paradigms are at work across Europe. Certain resonances with general perception show themselves above all in the decoration of shopping centres and cities and in ordinary Christmas decoration. In the case of light exhibitions, we often set the starting points through a story, and sometimes – especially at the beginning – sheer enthusiasm for new experiences prevails. Only in time can partners better define the needs of their space. But everything is conditioned by the theme. The general experience is delight at the new use of space in wintertime and the interest of visitors. And also delight that my idea of how their wishes might be fulfilled takes concrete shape. Customers often seek us out for a certain inherent simplicity and elegance of execution. Like us, they prefer meaning, interactivity and sensitive treatment. With the design of our exhibition Srdce Evropy (The Heart of Europe) I am experiencing a grateful reception from all partners this year. Europeanness is truly an everyday process, and I am glad that we can develop and spread this idea further with our light. Every day, face to face.

Eva Poláčková, DECOLED s.r.o.