Luci d'Artista

With the combination of baroque and renaissance architecture all around the city, it’s hard to imagine that Torino could be even more interesting and scenic at night. But from the beginning of November to the end of January each year (extended to March 20th this year for the Olympics), the City Council provides lights for what’s known as Luci d’Artista (Artists’ Lights). The streets, piazzas, and buildings of downtown Torino are illuminated by light sculptures and installations by some of the most famous European artists. It’s like Christmas lights gone crazy! The core group of light installations were started in 1988 and consists of star constellations, planetary systems, neo-pop street signs, neon mechanical birds, and human figures.

Torino is establishing itself as a contemporary arts city and was looking for a way to bring the arts to the general public. Each year, one or two new installations are commissioned. At first, the lights would stop me in my tracks each time I turned a corner and saw a new display. After living here for 6 weeks though, the displays have become landmarks by which I navigate the city at night! Just a side-note, you know you need to get off the #18 tram downtown when you see the Luci d’Artista exhibit at Piazza Carlo Emanuele II!

The pictures are of the Flight of Numbers (A Fibonacci sequence of Illuminated numbers ascending the landmark Mole Antonelliana tower), Planetario on Via Roma, Regno Dei Fiori in Piazza Carlo Emanuele II, Polomar on Via Po, and Small Blue Spirits on Santa Maria del Monte church overlooking the River Po.