Gerry Hofstetter has transformed both built and natural objects into works of art including the Matterhorn and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Keystone / Oleg Petrasyuk
Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter has brought his light projection art to Ukraine, transforming buildings in its capital into works of art for three days over Christmas.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/jdp
Русский
ru
Швейцарский художник устроил световое шоу в Киеве на Рождество
Russian attacks on power stations have caused severe power outages and left the Ukrainian capital largely dark at night. From December 23-25, Hofstetter is bringing some light to the city for fifteen minutes each night with the help of diesel generators.
Hofstetter, who has made a name for himself with light projections on the Matterhorn, an Arctic iceberg and the Brandenburg Gate, is beaming the Ukrainian flag, doves of peace, Christmas motifs and other images onto the facades of museums, universities, residential buildings and churches throughout Kyiv.
The lightshow also remembers victims of the war, projecting photo portraits of victims with their names and age at death on buildings and monuments such as St. Andrew’s Church. The images are also being streamed live.
“With these illuminations, I want to bring hope and some Christmas to Ukrainians,” Hofstetter was quoted as saying in a statement ahead of the lightshow according to news agency Keystone-SDA. The project was not announced ahead of time for security reasons but the Swiss Embassy in Kyiv provided logistics support.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Switzerland is Europe’s most innovative country, EU study finds
This content was published on
In the European Commission's annual ranking, the Swiss score dropped slightly in 2025, but not enough to cost it top spot.
This content was published on
Following a drop already in 2023, the harvest volume again declined last year, as the importance of wood chips for energy production has increased.
Women’s Euro 2025 has been largely peaceful so far
This content was published on
After two weeks of football fever in various Swiss host cities, no major incidents have been reported so far, police say.
Planned solar park at Bern airport scaled back after talks
This content was published on
The ground-mounted plant at Belpmoos Airport will be smaller than originally planned, the parties involved said on Tuesday.
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
This content was published on
Legal action aims to put an end to the delivery of the six Elbit reconnaissance drones already plagued by delays and setbacks.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
This content was published on
The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
This content was published on
Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
This content was published on
A beacon of hope? Light pollution? The nightly displays on an Alpine peak are entertaining virtual visitors while worrying conservationists.
Swiss Solidarity has sent CHF30 million in aid to Ukraine
This content was published on
Six months on from the Russian invasion, the Swiss Solidarity charity has financed 54 projects to help people affected in and around Ukraine.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.