Enlighten is a public installation aimed at raising awareness about
light pollution. It is designed to facilitate active collaboration
through carefully curated interactions that require users to work
together toward a collective goal. It is designed to facilitate
active collaboration through carefully curated interactions that
require users to work together toward a collective goal and to
encourage meaningful, thought-provoking discussion regarding the
topic of light pollution.
We have realised and understood that light pollution may not be as
recognised in everyday life compared to other forms of pollution.
However, this does not mean that it is any less important or
consequential. In creating Enlighten, we hope to bring light to
people by physically showing them the effects of light pollution in
its simplest form.
At its core, Enlighten requires collective action – people must work
together to turn off all of the lights in the installation. Only
after this has been achieved will people be able to see the stars.
As an additional touch, city sounds will be played in the background
to symbolise the significance of city lights to light pollution. As
each light is turned off, the volume of the background city noise
will decrease accordingly; this represents a greater picture whereby
the relationship between more city lights is equal to an increased
impact on light pollution. Once users complete their tasks inside
the installation, the experience does not end there. We have
designed small business-sized cards that provide additional steps
that can be easily completed by anyone. These cards have been
designed in the hope that they will act as a trigger so that users
remember their experience with Enlighten and continue to raise
awareness about light pollution, whatever they may be.
For more info:
International Dark-Sky Association
Astronomical Society of South Australia
