The Power of Light

I’ve been inspired to write about something that has been flooding the news lately, especially following the attacks in Paris. The hot topic at hand…the POWER OF LIGHT + its effect on the socio-political world. What do I mean by the ‘Power of Light’? Well, read on…

I’m sure most of you have noticed in the past couple of weeks that your social media news feeds have been filled with images of famous landmarks from around the globe showing support + solidarity for France. Landmarks donning the colours blue, white and red, are meant to symbolize the French National Flag.

Light for France

How are they doing this? By using LIGHT as their medium! In the past, it wouldn’t have been this easy to make such a powerful statement (or at least done as quickly). Being able to illuminate something as grand and significant as a recognizable landmark is quite a power tool. Most people don’t think too much about light. It’s often taken for granted because it’s always just ‘there’. There to allow us to see. There to illuminate our environments (whether inside or out).

What if you stopped for a moment to think about the power that light has! How it can truly affect the world we live in. In this instance, how changing the colour properties on a luminaire’s setting can actually proclaim your point of view in the world. As seen with the Paris attacks, the world united together by illuminating their buildings and landmarks all over the world. That’s it. They ‘turned on a light’.  I just find it amazing how simple illuminated colours can be so bold as to show support for a cause or express a strong political stance.

Berlin Arches

Take the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Illuminated Pink and it’s creating awareness for Breast Cancer. Illuminated in Rainbow colours, and it’s now supporting/celebrating the legalization of gay marriage. Applied thoughtfully and carefully, the power of colour + light can resonate a pretty powerful statement!

Support or Celebration

Let’s look at it another way. Light can be just as powerful when it’s not there. Below are a few examples of landmarks who showed their respect for the mourning by ‘turning out’ their lights. A moment of silence, if you will.

Lights Out for France

I believe the language of light can speak volumes! Don’t you?

I do…


Non cropped thumbnail Elaina