International Day of Light – 2023

Light is all around us. From the bright sun of the outdoors to the vehicle headlights that guide our way home at night, light plays a major role in our lives. With apologies to Debby Boone (for those who are old enough to remember) we, quite literally, need it to light up our lives! But how often do you think about just how much we rely on lights?

The United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created the International Day of Light (IDL) to draw attention to the contribution of light and light-based technologies to various fields including arts and entertainment, education, medicine, and more. The first IDL was held in 2015. It is celebrated every year on May 16, the anniversary of the first successful firing of a laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.

Humans have used light for hundreds of thousands of years. Around 70,000 BCE, they created the first “lamps” by filling hollow rocks, shells, and other objects with moss, then soaking the moss in animal fat and igniting it. Light has come a long way since then! 

Here are some of the ways we use light in many areas of our lives, including some things you may not know about!

Light in arts and entertainment 

Light is an integral part of the arts and entertainment field. The earliest modern English theaters had no roofs so natural light could illuminate the stage. Once the venues moved indoors, theater professionals began using candlelight. In the early 1800s, they switched to gas lights until the invention of the electric bulb. London’s Savoy Theatre, which opened in 1881, was the first public building in the world to be lit entirely by electricity.

Today, lighting is fundamental in theatrical productions and films. It directs the audience’s focus, creates three-dimensional effects, sets the mood and atmosphere, and can project scenery or designs. It can even help define a character’s emotions or thoughts. 

Light has also long played an integral role in visual art. In the 17^th century, the masters of the Baroque movement began experimenting with a technique called chiaroscuro to emphasize light and shadow, tonal contrasts, and create dramatic effects. In the 1860s, the impressionism movement was born. The artists of that period used sunlight and its ability to evoke an array of hues to enhance their works. 

The invention of the light bulb allowed artists to begin using light itself as a medium. The artists of the dada and minimalist movements used kinetic light reflected onto surfaces or fluorescent light tubes as sculptures. And of course, light is also used to accentuate and enhance textures, colors, and shapes in all types of displays in museums and galleries around the world.

Light in technology and medicine 

From the operating room to the internet, light is revolutionizing the way people work and communicate. 

In the medical field, doctors use phototherapy powered by fluorescent light bulbs, halogen lights, sunlight, or LEDs to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Physicians also use LEDs to heal wounds more quickly and treat precancers. And in the operating room, LED lights provide intense illumination without shadows, allowing surgeons to see clearly and avoid unnecessary distractions.

In technology, light is helping to overcome stubborn connectivity gaps. The cities of Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are only three miles apart. However, a traditional cable would need to be routed around a river, making broadband much more costly. Innovators are overcoming that challenge by using LiFi or light waves instead of radio waves to transmit data.

PORT – Your event, theater, and architectural lighting experts 

At PORT, we know how important lighting is! We use the latest lighting technology and techniques so your project turns out just right, whether it’s a theatrical production, an in-person or virtual event, or architectural lighting. We also provide: 

• Event lighting & production services
• Technical direction
• Hybrid events

• Architectural lighting & controls
• Theatrical lighting & rigging
• Rigging inspections

• Lighting
• Audio/video
• Expendables
• Rentals

Ready to see the amazing impact that lighting can have on your space, venue, or event? Contact us for a consultation!