Every two years, Hamburg’s harbour area is bathed in blue light thanks to the Blue Port Hamburg light installation art project. Of course, as a city with a strong maritime tradition, the Hanseatic City has a strong connection to the colour blue, which echoes the water and the expansive sky. Blue Port Hamburg manifests this connection visually and draws the attention of residents and visitors alike to the harbour area, which is in many ways the heart of the city.
Hamburg has the well-known light artist Michael Batz, who installed blue light gates throughout Hamburg for the 2006 World Cup, to thank for turning its port into a unique work of art. Batz has been transforming the port with blue light since 2008. The over 9,000 blue lighting elements come mostly from public lighting sources or building lights, and give Batz the opportunity to play with lights and colour in interesting, atmospheric ways. Especially spectacular are the bridges and cranes, which take on a new, otherworldly appearance, beckoning visitors to take an afterdark stroll along the waterfront.
Dates:
2023 dates TBA
Location:
In and around Hamburg’s port
