“Switch on Beijing” International Lighting Festival gathers many representatives from home and abroad from various aspects of the creative industry. By using different materials and design concepts, they express their attitudes towards life. This festival is a platform for design to reach out the public offering a great opportunity to rethink about life and new attempts in humanity, art, science and even environmental protection. --Tewa Srilaklang, founder of “Switch on Beijing” International Lighting Festival and curator

No matter in Beijing or China, the festival is a unique art event, which has received positive feedbacks from all walks of life. The lighting design industry in China has never been closer with art.          -- Fang Zhenning, famous independent curator

On the basis of the topics of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly, after having looked into the themes of “light and objects” and “light and human”, in 2013 the 4th“Switch on Beijing” International Lighting Festival is themed around “The First Day”, continuously inviting designers from China and other countries for a cross disciplinary cooperation. From August 16th to 18th from 18:30 to 22:00 every day, the festival will accompany over 100,000 people in this romantic mid-summer night. Installations from over 20 designers reshapes the artistic forms of lighting, showing their reflections on relations such as man and nature, city and environment, past and future, space and time, tradition and mod.

This festival also spared no efforts to invite Philippe MORVAN and his astonishing project “RING-Z” to participate. RING-Z, with its special lighting arrangements and music, was a hit during the 2012 Lyon Festival of Lights. In June 2013, Philippe came to Beijing to get a sketch of the city and was deeply touched. He will adjust his installation based on his experience here with different structures, lighting arrangement and music to jointly provide people with an all rounded visual, audio and shapes delight.

Apart from designers like Li JIA, Dongliang XU who have been participating for the last 3 years, this time many famous designers as well as new generation designers were attracted. Combining imaging and multi-media, Yanan XIE’s work is created on the basis of architecture, bringing changes to the building. XIE will present a 3D projection work exclusively designed for the Ditan Park. Hua JIANG’s “The Poem of Chinese Characters” illuminates all the Chinese characters to awaken the poetic nature of each visitor. The beauty of lights presented by elaborate design will surely bring unusually experience and surprise.

Sponsor: Zhongguancun Science Park Lama Temple Administrative Committee, Dongcheng District Bureau of Landscape and Forestry, Dongcheng District Landscape and Forestry Administration Center and Dongcheng District Culture Development and Promotion Center

Organizer: Beijing Dongfang Xinda Asset Management Corporation/ Ditan Park

Curator: Beijing Liang Dian Design Center / LDPi China Branch

Academic Support: School of Architecture of the Central Academy of Fine Art

Acknowledgement: Alliance Française Beijing Chine / Hangzhou YD Illumination