We dreamt about an Urban Sun floating above our cities: Daan Roosegaarde
by Jincy IypeMar 11, 2021
by Jincy IypePublished on : Jan 19, 2021
Dutch artist and designer Daan Roosegaarde reveals his latest project, Grow, a 20,000 sqm light installation that highlights the “beauty and importance” of agriculture and farming. Red and blue ultraviolet lights aided by four solar battery powered systems dance across a vast leek farmland in The Netherlands, appearing as a visual, luminous dreamscape. The artwork consists of design based “light recipes” inspired by photobiology light science technologies that can enhance plant growth and reduce pesticide use by 50 per cent.
“Most of the time we hardly notice the huge areas of the Earth which are literally feeding us. Grow highlights the importance of innovation in the agriculture system: How can cutting-edge light design help plants to grow more sustainably? How can we make the farmer the hero?” Roosegaarde poses a pertinent enquiry.
A newly released film by Studio Roosegaarde shows this cultural installation in action. Grow sheds light on how to cultivate agricultural fields in a more sustainable manner, and also reveals itself as a poetic, “hopeful light to people”.
“Grow gives a new meaning to the word ‘agri-culture’ by reframing the landscape as a living cultural artwork,” shares the Rotterdam-based studio.
Grow becomes a large-scale exploration of light technology earlier tested in greenhouses, based on research that suggests that certain combinations of light and colour help with plant growth, apart from making them more resilient toward infections and pests. High density LED lights are placed across the farm which then move rhythmically, creating trippy, wavy patterns.
Roosegaarde plans to take Grow to 40 different countries, with each illuminated installation featuring a local or national crop grown with its own unique light recipe. These he hopes will reiterate the harmful effects of pesticides, and bring to light a better, greener way to farm, and improve the urban environment, similar to his earlier Smog Free project. “Grow is the dreamscape which shows the beauty of light and sustainability. Not as a utopia but as a protopia, improving step by step,” states Roosegaarde.
Sitting at the crossroads of science, design and arts, Grow is part of the artist-in-residence programme of the Rabobank, the first in a series of dreamscapes by Studio Roosegaarde. Roosegaarde and his team worked on Grow for over two years, aided and informed by experts and knowledge sessions at Studio Roosegaarde, Wageningen University & Research, Springtij Forum, and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
by Sunena V Maju Mar 21, 2023
Artistic director of Dior men and Fendi womenswear, Kim Jones collaborated with Hennessy to create a limited-edition collection featuring a sneaker, decanter and a bottle of cognac.
by Samta Nadeem Mar 20, 2023
Presented by Istituto Marangoni London, the panel included Faye Toogood, Caroline Till, and Martino Gamper, in conversation with Johanna Agerman Ross at the V&A Museum.
by Sunena V Maju Mar 18, 2023
STIR talks to graphic designer Annie Atkins about her journey of creating immaculately detailed designs, props and graphics for movies, that disappear into the scenography.
by Riya Patel Mar 15, 2023
In a conversation with STIR, the London-based artist talks about her artistic practice that combines fashion design and engineering, exploring biotech and 3D printing.
get regular updates SIGN UP
Don't have an account?
Sign UpOr you can join with
Already signed up?
LoginOr you can join with
Please select your profession for an enhanced experience.
Tap on things that interests you.
Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch
Please enter your details and click submit.
What do you think?