Finnish light artist Kari Kola behind the Photonics Finland member company Valoparta Oy has once again pushed the boundaries of large‑scale light art. His newest creation, Lighting the Sound, premiered in mid‑March in Albany, Western Australia, celebrating the region’s history and deep cultural heritage in a way never seen before. Co‑designed with local Indigenous partners and inspired by the colours of native plant life, the artwork illuminates an extraordinary 10‑square‑kilometre area with sweeping fields of green and red LED light during three weekends in March.
The premiere weekend drew significant public attention in Australia and internationally – and for a good reason. Lighting the Sound is not only the largest light installation of its kind ever created, but also a landmark achievement for Finnish cultural export, photonics innovation, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration.
A Showcase of Joensuu’s Photonics Expertise
Kola travelled to Australia as an ambassador of Joensuu’s photonics ecosystem, one of Europe’s most important hubs of photonics research and industry. Representing the theme “Light from Joensuu”, the project highlighted Joensuu region’s long‑standing expertise, as well as the technological capabilities of Finnish companies.
The installation featured some of the brightest LED and laser systems on the planet, including:
- 15 red laser light sources delivering an extraordinary 2.6 million lux in total.
- 750 custom‑built LED units, with the exact green tone engineered to Kola’s specifications.
- Optics from three Finnish photonics manufacturers, including
- 15‑degree high‑precision optics for near‑field illumination,
- 8‑degree high‑power units for efficiency, and
- 3.4‑degree ultra‑narrow beams for extreme‑distance projection.
The result was a technical and artistic achievement of unprecedented scale – demonstrating how cutting‑edge photonics technologies are increasingly intertwined with modern visual art.
Collaboration Between Art, Research, and Industry
Lighting the Sound also showcased the deep, long‑standing collaboration between Kari Kola and the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).
Kola has regularly lectured in UEF’s Applications of Photonics series, introducing students and researchers to new artistic uses of photonics. He has also brought international guests to explore UEF’s laboratories, while UEF staff and students have in turn participated in events such as the international light art festival Visual Festival, held in Kola’s gardens in Joensuu. The ongoing partnership has resulted in unique joint initiatives—from children’s photonics events at Botania to a concert series merging Joensuu City Orchestra’s string quartet with immersive light.
The cooperation continues to grow: discussions are underway on new projects related to light pollution demonstrations and other emerging themes.
The Finnish photonics delegation had the chance to visit local research institutes to discuss collaboration opportunities.
A Finnish Delegation Strengthening International Partnerships
A dedicated photonics delegation from Joensuu travelled to Australia for the premiere, including representatives from the City of Joensuu, UEF, and several companies. According to Professor Jyrki Saarinen, the group received a warm welcome, and conversations on future research collaboration progressed quickly.
One promising area is the measurement of microplastics. Ocean currents transport significant quantities of microplastics from India toward Australia, and Joensuu possesses world‑class technologies for their detection. Discussions on joint projects are expected to continue. Another topic of interest was Finnish airship technology, where cameras and sensors gather data on vegetation and infrastructure. This sparked discussions for collaboration to detect houses and people for example during massive wild fires.
Light Art as a Driver of Technology and Innovation
Lighting the Sound illustrates how large‑scale light art can push the development of new technologies. Producing extremely bright, precisely controlled, environmentally durable systems requires advanced engineering and tight cooperation between companies, researchers, and artists.
Projects like Kola’s create demand for:
- new optical designs
- higher‑efficiency light sources
- robust outdoor photonics solutions
- innovative control and integration technologies
In turn, these advancements feed back into Finland’s photonics sector, strengthening its international competitiveness.
With its record‑breaking scale, cultural significance, and technological ambition, Lighting the Sound stands as a milestone achievement for both Finnish light art and the photonics industry. It demonstrates how Joensuu’s photonics expertise, Finnish companies, and world‑leading artistic vision can together produce work that captures global attention.
Lighting the Sound shines far beyond Albany—it showcases what is possible when art, science, and technology truly collaborate.
Photos: Tuomas Kinnunen