Rainbow Station at Amsterdam central station

Daan Roosegarde has created a rainbow on the eastern side of Amsterdam Central Station. An artistic experience that is as fleeting as it is real, appearing briefly about an hour after sunset; the artwork was developed in collaboration with astronomers from the University of Leiden.



Travellers get to experience a truly unforgettable show at Amsterdam Central Station, where they are treated to the latest artwork by Daan Roosegarde of Studio Roosegarde, famous for his striking light installations.



Daan Roosegarde worked with the astronomers from the University of Leiden and adapted the innovative LCD technology used by scientists for space research in the new European Extremely Large Telescope, to develop this light installation. A rainbow that fits perfectly onto the shape of the glass section under the roof arch on the eastern side of the station materialises about an hour after sunset and will do so every day for a year. Just like natural rainbows, it appears fleetingly, making the colourful show an even more special experience.





Here – like in his previous artworks – Daan Roosegard uses the latest generation technology to inject beauty into everyday life, confirming his vocation as a “techie-poet”. 





Dutch railway operators, ProRail and NS decided to dispense some of this beauty to sustainable train travellers. A tribute to nature and to sustainability that celebrates the 125^th anniversary of Amsterdam Central Station and at the same time an installation to mark the UNESCO International Year of Light 2015.



The Rainbow Station installation was developed in collaboration and with the support of the Amsterdam Fund for the Art, NS, ProRail, Stitching Doen and Studio Roosegarde.

(Christiane Bürklein)

Project: Studio Roosegarde
Year: December 2014 – December 2015
Images: Courtesy of Studio Roosegarde
Video: http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=LEZCqBIdon0  
http://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/rainbow-station/photo/#rainbow-station