This year marks the 30th anniversary of the
Lichtjesroute, an outdoor festival held every autumn in Eindhoven.
The festival always starts on September 18 and lasts three weeks. As part of
Operation Market Garden the city of Eindhoven was liberated in 1944 together
with the rest of the southern Netherlands (including Belgium). This is still
celebrated with a parade on September 18, every year since 1945.
During the first commemoration of the liberation of
Eindhoven in 1945 the inhabitants places candles in their windows along the
route of the parade. This was formalised a year later with the formation of the
Committee for Festive Lighting (Feestverlichtingscomité). The year after the
Remembrance Foundation was made responsible for all commemorative festivities
and the single day event was expanded into a route of lights with every
Neighbourhood Association in the boroughs of Woensel, Strijp, Eindhoven, Gestel
and Stratum*.The initial five locations of lights (displays of incandescent
light bulbs donated by Philips) grew into a 40 km long string of locations
throughout the whole of the city. 1969, 25 years after liberation, saw the last
commemorative event organised by the Remembrance Foundation.
The
Route of Lights festival was revived by a group of enthusiasts in the borough
of Strijp in 1984. A committee of volunteers set to work at attracting sponsors
(such as NRE, DAF and Philips Lighting), creating the light ornaments and
getting several Neighbourhood Associations involved in the new Lichtjesroute.
The route consists of a string of
streets and sites with light art through the centre of Eindhoven and Stratum,
Strijp and Woensel. The route is about 25 km long that can be travelled by car
(mostly for families) and by bicycle. The route is indicated by signs with a
light bulb. Although originally light bulbs were used for the ornaments and
displays, the organisers are gradually changing over to LEDs.
Along the route various
ornaments consisting of lamps mounted on frames are hung of lamp posts. There
are some reoccurring designs, this penguin for instance (left). As the route of
lights was initially mainly aimed at children most of the initial ornaments
were made to appeal to them. So gnomes in various shapes and sizes are well
represented. In some streets the neighbourhood committee has decided to opt for
light garlands, like this street in the Garden Village Barrier (on the right).
The route has been signposted
with these light bulb pointers. In some streets the residents have opted for
light ornaments that reflect the street name, like here in de Zwaanstraat (Swan
Street). The famous Evoluon building, once a science museum, has also been immortalized
in lights (right).
Some of the modern ornaments
stay within the fairy lights theme of the early period. Along the edge of the
Philips - de Jong Park monstrous masks pop out of the tree canopy with large
elves (middle) taking centre stage. Seals are a kids-favourite and also occur as
lamp post ornaments along several streets.
As a city of design, new
ornament are being commissioned from local, young graphic designers every few years.
This chameleon in LEDs actually changes colour and appears to catch the large
fly at the end of its perch. Another modern light ornament that has movement
incorporated into the design is this tall lighthouse that sends out beams of
light. This spectacular angel stands three storeys high and harbours a
flickering flame of remembrance for the victims of war.
Neighbourhood Associations
have great freedom in their input for the Route of Lights. Here the residents
have opted for a pirate theme with tall ships, a pirate with his treasure and
lamp post ornaments in the shape of buoys, anchors (right) and swords.
Although some of the light
displays are serious and commemorative, most are meant to be fun. This is quite
apparent in this clown juggling with money that stands opposite the business
school. Although many of the people involved in the Lichtjesroute don't see
this as culture it most certainly is. This has prompted a graphic designer to
create this display of a large theatre in the middle of his parental
neighbourhood. The lamp post ornaments leading up to the central green are
shaped like theatre curtains. This stick figure is called "Lampie".
He was the unofficial emblem of the last jubilee of the Route of Lights.
* the Franconian names are easily
translated in their Saxon counterparts, which makes it possible to give English
versions or cognates: Wednesley, Stripe, Gaesley, Hove's End and Streatham. (Just
a lark of course, don't take it too seriously!)
No comments:
Post a Comment