Insight - Enlightened

The temporary light artwork Inzicht – Verlicht (Insight – Enlightened) was commissioned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Amsterdam and the Luther Museum to commemorate five hundred years of Lutheran presence in Amsterdam, which is now 750 years old.

The diptych tells a story about visibility, freedom, and connection. It is an ode to the resilience of the Lutheran community and its enduring bond with the city.

The history of the Oude Lutherse Kerk (Old Lutheran Church) itself is unique to this location. When the building was constructed in the 17th century, it was permitted – but under one condition: it could not be visible from the street. The church had to be hidden behind the facade of the Spui. With Insight – Enlightened, the church's interior is literally made visible to the outside world for the first time.

The first part of the work, Insight, consists of a graphic light drawing projected onto the church's facade from sunset to sunrise. The drawing symbolically reveals the building's interior and sheds new light on what has remained hidden for centuries.

The second part, Enlightened, comprises six blue lanterns that bathe the square in front of the church in soft light. At the entrance, two swans sway with the light. The swan refers to Martin Luther and the Lutheran tradition; the blue light symbolizes heaven. The movement of the swans evokes associations with freedom, space, and survival.

Together, these two elements form a temporary monument in the public space, a tranquil gesture that connects history and current events.

Insight –Enlightened can be seen daily from sunset to sunrise, until September 21, 2025, at Spui in Amsterdam.

With thanks to the Lutheran funds, private donors, and the Mondriaan Fund.