Behind the dark clouds, an utopian cosmos breaks through.
Wonderlicht festival is a theatrical winter walk over the old stronghold in Alkmaar. In 2023, a video projection on the Mill of Piet was presented as the grande finale of this walk. The show was specially designed in the context of “Alkmaar Ontzet 450 years” and paid tribute to Adriaan Anthonisz, spiritual father of the stronghold and former mayor of Alkmaar. He designed the city walls that ensured that the Spanish soldiers could not just enter Alkmaar 450 years afo. The idea of the fortifications with strongholds was revolutionary: following Alkmaar’s example, he then designed the fortifications for 24 cities and thus changed the urban appearance forever.
Inspired by his forward-thinking view of the city, Beeldjutters created a projection on the mill that shows a new future based on the present. First we see that the mill is surrounded by darkness. But then the light breaks through. The mill breaks open and we discover an utopian cosmos. A world that is not gray and gloomy, but colourful and imaginative. A carousel of images appears, in which people, nature and space are in harmony with each other. An immersive experience in which not only projected animations can be seen on the mill, but also features a park with trees coloured in blue, pink and purple light.
CONCEPT AND DESIGN
Vincent Vriens
Julian van Buul
ANIMATION
Donald van de Zanden
Dominic van Buul
MUSIC
Joost van Dijk
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
Niels Krupers
TECHNICAL INSTALLATION AND SUPPORT
Arthur Moret
Danny Hilbrands
Gwylan Go
Bastiaan Beszelsen
VIDEO EDIT
Joost van Dijk
COMMISSIONED BY
Wonderlicht festival
SUPPORTED BY
DOSS Event Support
Alkmaar Ontzet 450 jaar
SPECIAL THANKS
Kees Piet
Mirella Doss
Barry Vliek
Rowy Onrust
Adriaan Bruin
Eva Geia Huisman
Jolein Kop