arc Dec/Jan 2020/21 – Issue 119

Another year over…
And a new one just begun…

What a year it has been!

I don’t think anybody could have possibly predicted this time last year that 2020 would have turned out the way that it did. To use the most over-used word of the year, it has been completely unprecedented in the challenges that it has thrown our way, and I sincerely hope that all of you have made it through the year happy and healthy.

While it has, at times, been a huge struggle, it has also been a year of new adventures, new technologies and new opportunities. For many of us, it may have taken a while to get used to, but by now I’m sure you’re all overly comfortable with Zoom/Teams/Hangouts, and have sat in on enough webinars to last a lifetime.

Through it all though, I’ve been constantly reminded of the kind-hearted, spirited and community-driven attitude of the lighting industry. From digital events such as our own [d]arc room livestream and the IALD Enlighten conferences to wide variety webinar series, to simple group chats and virtual hangouts, the way that everyone has stuck together and supported each other has been incredibly touching, and I know that we as a magazine would certainly have found it a lot tougher without the support of you, our readers. So from everyone at [d]arc media, a heartfelt thank you!

Onto our final issue of 2020: inside these pages, we’re thrilled to feature a massive 15-page special on Lighting Planners Associates as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. I also sat down with Colombian lighting designer Cristina Gil Venegas to talk about her fascinating research project, The Nighttime Traveller, which you can find in our Women in Lighting feature. 

Elsewhere, our incredible cover story sees us speak to Eleftheria Deko about the amazing re-lighting of the Acropolis of Athens – Deko provided some great insight about the logistics of this incredible project, so I hope you enjoy reading it.

Finally, as we wave goodbye (and good riddance) to 2020, and look ahead to 2021, I’d like to paraphrase the late, great John Lennon:

Have a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year, let’s hope it’s a good one, we could certainly do with it!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Matt Waring
Editor
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