Columbia University School of the Arts presents the monumental public art event WATERLICHT, or water light, designed by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde, as part of its campus-wide initiative Year of Water. Restorative and ruinous, excessive and scarce, water sustains life on Earth. In fall 2019, Columbia University launches the Year of Water, an interdisciplinary investigation of water in all of its social, political, historical, cultural, economic and environmental inequities and complexities. Why water? Because it fuels or destroys ecosystems, biodiversity and the global economy, and is central to many current geopolitical questions and conflicts.
A centerpiece of the Year of Water programming is WATERLICHT—the site-wide, large-scale light installation by Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde—scheduled for public viewing October 22, 23 and 24 at Columbia University’s Lenfest Center for the Arts. Propelled by LED lights and lenses, WATERLICHT illuminates the power and poetry of water, while bringing awareness to both water overabundance and water scarcity. Due to the unique nature of the installation, WATERLICHT can only be viewed after sunset, from 7:30 pm to 11 pm.
Led by Columbia’s School of the Arts and conceived by its Dean, Carol Becker, Year of Water encompasses art, lectures, symposia and research uniting the University and its constituents in exploring the planet’s most precious resource.
“WATERLICHT is about showing the power of living with water, which is more relevant than ever in New York City. It is an honour to work with Columbia University to exhibit WATERLICHT, and connect with a new generation, which plays a central role in changing the climate.” —Daan Roosegaarde

WATERLICHT by Daan Roosegaarde, via www.studioroosegaarde.net