polaris glowing star installation lights up in the heart of amsterdam

Illuminating Polaris reshapes Amsterdam’s skyline

Jun Ong’s light art installation, Polaris, draws from the North Star and boat sails, embodying the vibrant energy of both historic and modern Amsterdam. This striking piece takes center stage at the Amsterdam Light Festival, coinciding with the city’s 750th anniversary. Polaris or the North Star, known as a vital navigational beacon for centuries, has guided travelers, shaped agricultural calendars, and aligned rituals with celestial events like solstices and equinoxes. In Ong’s interpretation, Polaris descends from the cosmos, reshaping Amsterdam’s skyline with a temporal glitch.

Jun Ong integrates Polaris into the city’s landscape

The artwork sits at the confluence of water and land, reflecting bike movements, and echoing the dynamic rhythm of the city. Its almost transparent structure nods to Amsterdam’s shipping heritage, with intricate elements reminiscent of sail masts and cables. Connecting the bridge, water, and quayside, Polaris integrates into the city’s landscape, marking the collision of ancient and modern rituals through an interplay of chaos and order.

A reimagining of the light artist’s 2015 installation STAR, Polaris is the highlight commission of this year’s festival, themed ‘Rituals.’ The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from November 28, 2024, to January 19, 2025, inviting visitors to explore this vibrant homage to Amsterdam’s storied past and present.

project info:

name: Polaris
designer: Jun Ong | @junihaoni

commissioned by: Amsterdam Light Festival | @amsterdamlightfestival

location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

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