There are a few days in the middle of summer when Pécs shows a completely different side. The streets we walk along usually during daytime become filled with special lights, colours, and stories in the evening. Between July 2 and 5, the Zsolnay Light Festival was held for the tenth time, which has become one of the city’s most important cultural events over the years.
The idea for the festival was born from the thought that light should not merely be simple illumination, but rather become a means of artistic expression. The organizers wanted to create an event that showcases the buildings and squares of Pécs from a new perspective, while bringing contemporary art closer to the general public. From the very beginning, an important consideration was that the festival should not be a traditional exhibition, but an experience in which visitors can actively participate.
Over the past ten years, the Zsolnay Light Festival has developed significantly, and today it represents a special event not only for the residents of Pécs, but also for visitors who arrive for the event from various parts of the country, and even from abroad. One of the greatest unique features of the event is that it connects the historical environment of the city with modern technology. The intersection of centuries-old buildings and the latest visual solutions creates an atmosphere that can rarely be experienced at other events.
One of the festival’s most spectacular events that attracted the most interest, was once again the Zsolnay Light Art Video Mapping Competition projected onto the facade of the Pécs Cathedral. In the evenings, massive crowds gathered in Dóm Square to observe how the building transforms with the help of lights. The artworks projected onto the enormous surface were not simple pictures: the artists also utilized the forms, towers, and details of the cathedral, so the spectacle almost moved together with the building.
This year, in the final of the competition, works by Italian, Chinese, and Bulgarian creators were featured, which paid tribute to the art of Victor Vasarely, pioneer of the Op art movement, who was born in Pécs. The projections of different styles all approached the relationship between light and geometry in a different way. The viewers not only witnessed a spectacular show, but also an insight into how technology can be used as a creative artistic tool. Based on the audience’s votes, the Bulgarian MP-STUDIO’s artwork titled Modular Entropy ultimately won the audience award.
The Cathedral, however, was just one venue of the festival. At numerous locations in the downtown area, special light installations awaited the visitors. Among these were artworks that captivated people simply with their visual appeal, while others functioned interactively. In many cases, the movements, sounds, or presence of the visitors had an effect on the installations, so the audience did not observe the events merely as outsiders.
Perhaps this is exactly why the festival is so popular: everyone can find something that is interesting to them. Some arrive for the monumental light paintings, others seek the smaller, thought-provoking artworks, while many simply view it as a pleasant evening event. One of the greatest values of the event is that it is capable of appealing to different age groups.
It can be interesting to observe how such an event transforms the perception of a city. The Zsolnay Light Festival not only offers events, but also tells a story about Pécs. With the help of lights, the locations that locals see every day also take on a new meaning. A familiar space suddenly becomes a special experience, which people discover together.
The festival once again showed that culture does not necessarily exist only in museums or theaters. Sometimes, an evening walk in the city, a few creative ideas, and a little light that shows our environment from a completely new side are enough.
The spotlights eventually went out, the installations were dismantled, and Pécs returned to its usual rhythm. However, the festival left something behind this year as well: for a few days, it brought people closer together, and reminded us that sometimes it is enough to see the same city in a different light to rediscover it.
Photos: Krajnik A. Benedek
