JU students spread light in Stockholm during Nobel Week

Ten lighting design students at the School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University light up the "Stallkanalen" in central Stockholm with lights during the Nobel Week Lights, 6-14 December.

"We are learning som much and gaining valuable knowledge as lighting designers," says student Isabelle Guander.

For Nobel Week Lights, artists, designers and students create light artworks inspired by the Nobel Prize, which are then displayed outdoors in Stockholm during Nobel Week. The JTH students participating in the light festival are in their final year of the Lighting Design and Technology programme. Their contribution to Nobel Week Lights is called “Peace by Peace” and is inspired by the Nobel Peace prize and former US President Jimmy Carter, who was awarded the prize in 2022.

Light frames, eternity mirror and quotes

The students have created and hung eleven light frames and an eternity mirror (which creates an image of infinite depth through mirrors and lamps) on one wall of the "Stallkanalen", and they are projecting quotes from Jimmy Carter on the other side.

“The light frames symbolize, among other things, the strength and work that so many people around the world put into creating a safe world to live in. Jimmy Carter worked for peace, which is why we are displaying quotes from him,” says JTH student Evelina Gillberg.

“Important to be quick-thinking and solution-oriented”

The students were assisted by their teachers Johan Röklander and Mikael Pettersson. They began working on the installation in September through the course “Lighting for Exhibitions and Events.” Initially, they were to be at Strömsborg in Stockholm, but due to road works, the location was changed to "Stallkanalen", a canal which runs alongside the Parliament Building and the Royal Palace. There, they had to develop their original ideas.

“We arrived in Stockholm on the afternoon of 3 December and finished the installations the following day. We had to make a few changes, but the collaboration went very well. Since it was a critical situation, it was important to think quickly and be solution-oriented,” says student Isabelle Guander.

“Gives lots of new experiences”

The students are back in Jönköping but will return to Stockholm on 15 December to take down the installations. Evelina and Isabella emphasize that it is an exciting and honourable assignment for them to participate in Nobel Week Lights.

“It is rewarding to do something so concrete that many people can enjoy. This gives us lots of new experiences and insights into different processes and ways of working that we will be able to use in our working lives. And it's also fun just to see and be inspired by the other light installations.”