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Light is Here
Tonight, an Aurora Borealis graced UNESCO鈥檚 Globe in Paris. The Northern Lights, a natural phenomenon only seen in much higher latitudes, were reproduced by artist Kari Kola on the UNESCO Headquarters in celebration of the International Year of Light 2015, which opened with a special event on 19 and 20 January.
鈥I have been fascinated by light for as long as I can remember鈥, said Finnish artist Kari Kola. 鈥In Finland, autumns and winters are long and dark. I wanted to teach myself to use light to make most of the darkness that surrounded me during those times of year. When it鈥檚 dark 20 hours a day, you can really make a difference with light."
He chose to represent the Aurora Borealis in a stylistically abstract form through his installation 鈥淟ight is Here鈥, bathing the buildings in blues and greens, in contrast with the warmer colors of dawn. 鈥I was 1 year old when I first saw the Northern Lights, and I鈥檝e seen them every year since. But I have learned most of what I know about light by watching the sunrise
The main objective of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL2015), which is led by UNESCO, is to raise global awareness of how light-based technologies can provide solutions to the global challenges of sustainable development. Light-based technologies have many applications in fields as diverse as medicine, communications or energy. They offer the possibility of a transition towards more sustainable lifestyles, and can contribute to alleviate poverty, especially for 1.3 billion people living off the grid, with no access to electricity.
The 2-day event gathered over 1,000 participants, including decision makers, industry representatives and leading scientists. Five Nobel Prize laureates are giving lectures: Ahmed Zewail (鈥淟ight and Life鈥); Steven Chu (鈥淓nergy and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities鈥); William Phillips (鈥淓instein, Time and Light鈥); Serge Haroche (鈥淟ight and the Quantum鈥) and Zhores Alferov (鈥淓fficient Light Conversion and Generation鈥). The launch of the international Year of Light is also punctuated by thematic sessions on various topics, such as the role of optical technologies in development, the future of light-based technologies and the practical solutions they can provide.
The event was a tribute to the scientific and cultural aspects of light. These were illustrated through exhibits and performances, notably a recital by American violinist Joshua Bell and a performance of the Maori founding myth Te Ao M膩rama 鈥 From Darkness to the World of Light. Another highlight is the inauguration of the 鈥溾 campaign, launched by UNESCO in partnership with the science and cultural heritage organization 1001 Inventions. Ibn Al-Haytham, a 10th century scholar from Basra (Iraq), is considered to be the father of modern optics and of the present-day scientific experimental method. The Year coincides with the 1,000th anniversary of his seminal work, Kitab al-Manazir (Book of Optics).
Light is Here, created by Kari Kola and installed by , will illuminate UNESCO for one last night, tomorrow 20 January 2015.
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