China Lights festival, Utrecht
The Chinese Light festival is regularly organized in the Netherlands. This year, in 2022, you can admire this great light festival in Emmen and Ouwehands Zoo. Hopefully, it will be organized again somewhere in our country later this year.
Some years ago there was and light- and lantern exhibition of China Lights in Utrecht. With 90.000 visitors the event was a commercial success. This beautiful China lights festival was organized in the Botanic garden on the Science park, the University of Utrecht where there were dozens of light sculptures to see.
Oriental light art
The technique to make light sculptures is an oriental art form that exists for thousands of years. The materials to make a lantern are a combination of willow, rice paper, wood glue, bamboo and iron wire. The most fantastic works of art are made with these materials.
Magical forest
When the evening falls and you walk along with the beautiful artworks it feels like walking through a magical forest. It is a beautiful event for young and old. Everybody loves this spectacular light event.
Dragons and beyond
Dragons, giraffes, birds, everything is possible, it is beyond your imagination. Gigantic and high-light artworks. It is all mystical, a magical experience where you are enchanted along the way.
Culture
Chinese lanterns are more than a thousand years part of Chinese culture. Over the years they evolved gradually in the most wonderful beautiful shapes. The lantern festival is a traditional Chinese festival. The Chinese New Year ends with this festival. It happens on the 15th day of the new year in the Chinese calendar. On this day people eat Tangyuan in sugar soup and families hang lanterns in front of their doors. In addition to China, this festival is also celebrated in Taiwan, Korea and Japan. In the Netherlands, the Chinese New Year is traditionally exuberantly celebrated in The Hague with a parade and fireworks.
Making a light lantern or sculpture
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to make your own light art or lantern? Look at this video and go for it!
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to make your own light art or lantern? Look at this video and go for it! What do you need to make such a fabulous lantern: iron wire, willow, bamboo, rice paper, and wood glue.
We loved this very special China Light event and hope they soon come back to Holland.
