Two light artworks chosen for Winter Lights Festival 2025
Reykjavík City and Veitur held a competition for two light artworks in public spaces for the 2025 Winter Lights Festival last November. The selection committee has reviewed submissions and reached a decision.
The competition aimed to activate creativity and innovation supporting a vibrant city. The chosen works are:
Sólólól
The selection committee's reasoning states: „Sólólól illuminates darkness like a daylight lamp. The artwork broadens horizons and shows us how the solar stars in our surroundings look. Viewers connect to a website with their phones and choose from 6 different suns to explore and bathe in their light. In the darkest winter, we yearn for nothing more than to see the sun. It brings us many things: vitamins, happiness, warmth, life. Without it, we would be nothing."
Rebekka Ashley Egilsdóttir and Þorkell Máni Þorkelsson created Sólólól.
Sam-Vera
The selection committee's reasoning states: "Sam-Vera is an interactive light and sound work creating unique impressions and shared group experiences in Reykjavík's urban environment during winter. The installation is a pulsating light and sound sculpture responding to the number of individuals entering, from one to ten. When ten guests enter the work, it stops pulsating and lights up fully with an unbroken, beautiful harmony."
Arnar Ingi Viðarsson, Kári Einarsson, Ragnar Már Nikulásson and Valdís Steinarsdóttir created Sam-Vera.
Interactive light sculptures
The selection committee found both applications well-prepared and likely to bring ideas to fruition. Both are freestanding interactive light sculptures that can be placed in the cityscape as needed. One is based on a box shape and the other on a sphere shape, creating an interesting contrast.
The committee believes the works will likely interest and capture viewers of all ages, encouraging active participation.
The selection committee included Salóme Rósa Þorkelsdóttir, urban designer, Sesselja Jónasdóttir, project manager of List í ljósi, and Markús Þór Andrésson, head of division at Reykjavík Art Museum.
Veitur and Reykjavík City thank all who submitted proposals and sincerely congratulate the winners.
We look forward to the Winter Lights Festival 2025 from February 6-9.