From March 20 to 29 the "Lichtrouten 2025" will take place in Lüdenscheid under the theme "New Energies". Since 2002, this international festival of light has presented lighting installations and artistic experiments, transforming the city for ten days into a creative and inspiring experiential space.
Light Art in Urban Spaces
Lichtrouten offers visitors and professionals the opportunity to experience international light art projects that showcase architecture and urban spaces in new and surprising ways. Contemporary art projects will be spread across over 20 locations throughout the city center, including public squares, active and former shopping centers, and cultural institutions. "We invite people to discover light art and to see the city and its buildings from a fresh perspective," says Bettina Pelz, curator of Lichtrouten. All projects use light as artistic material or medium, featuring techniques such as 3D mapping, video mapping, photographic installations, laser drawings, and responsive LED installations.
DIAL as Host and Exhibition Venue
This year, DIAL is participating for the first time as an exhibition venue, as well as hosting the "Lichtrouten Artists' Hub" and the international "Lichtrouten Conference." We are involved in Lichtrouten because, through engineering, design, and science, we work daily with the medium of light—the art complements this perspective. Art typically finds little space in our everyday work, which is why we use Lichtrouten as an opportunity to bring light art directly into our building. We value good design and see encountering art as a valuable opportunity to gain new impulses and fresh perspectives. We look forward to connecting with many interesting people and welcoming lighting enthusiasts from Lüdenscheid and the surrounding area to conversations at DIAL.
Light Art at DIAL
During Lichtrouten, from March 20 to 29, two works of art will be displayed in DIAL's atrium. Both works are considered classics in the history of light art and are part of the Zumtobel Collection.
"FEROCOCCO N° 12” by François Morellet
François Morellet experimented with geometric forms and structures through drawings, paintings, sculptures, and installations. Since the 1960s, he has incorporated light as an essential element of his works. His compositions are based on visual systems using repetitions, series, and variations of technical materials. "Ferococco N° 12" is part of a series of graphic systems featuring arcs of neon lines. The artwork comprises six elements glowing in red-orange, creating a fascinating interplay with the surrounding space. The title references "Fer" (French for "iron") for the structural framework, and "Rococo" for the playful, asymmetrical art style of the 18th century.
"GET OUT OF THE LIGHT” by Brigitte Kowanz
Brigitte Kowanz explores how information changes when translated into symbols, language, and codes. Her works are conceived as "visual texts" in which the content is revealed to the viewer through the interplay of text layout, light distribution, and reflection. Since the 1990s, she has favored the Morse code—the first electronic binary code—in her work. "GET OUT OF THE LIGHT" combines numbers and language into an encoded message of light. Kowanz addresses the connection between seeing and understanding, information and code, demonstrating how language constructs reality—similar to how light makes it visible.
Lichtrouten Artists' Hub and Conference
The "Lichtrouten Artists' Hub" and the "Lichtrouten Conference" provide a platform for professional exchange among artists, curators, and producers of international light art festivals. The International Light Festivals Organization (ILO) is a global network of public light festivals, events, and experts in light art. It promotes international exchange of expertise, inspiration, and information, enhances the quality and artistic excellence of participating festivals, and raises awareness of light festivals as cultural events connecting art, design, technology, and entertainment. Participation in both events is by invitation only.
Further Information
The complete Lichtrouten program and background information about the participating artists can be found on the official Lichtrouten website at lichtrouten.de