We looked at nature, trying to understand the magic of light that is already amongst us. Inspired by the wind, fireflies and noctiluca, STUDIO ROOSEGAARDE designed SPARK. Research and development of the material started looking at biodegradable ingredients and machinery. We used a machine that created floatables. A smart light system was created for the lights to be absorbed by the floatables, with an entry and exit point. Resulting in beautiful spots on the floatables. Together it resulted in SPARK as we know it today. 

There are no real limitations if we look at regulations or size, we can go as large as we want. Budget was mainly directed at the innovation of the biodegradable material of the floatables and machinery. We had to make sure that the movie would not disclose any of the technology used, leaving the viewer to wonder what it is they are looking at.

Every year we spend billions of money on fireworks. A product with a negative impact that harms or pollutes nature, causes harm to both animals and humans. Fireworks are simultaneously on a sales increase and increasingly becoming illegal. It is banned in more and more cities around the globe. So how can we still experience the feeling that fireworks give us, in a more sustainable way? Less polluting, but still provoking the sense of wonder, joy, beauty and surprise within us? Emphasising the positive, through the feeling of wonder and togetherness. 

Artist Daan Roosegaarde, believes that when there is a problem, it is merely the result of bad human design. Committed to finding a fireworks alternative, his design created a more sustainable and joyful reality inspired by fireflies and noctiluca.

​There is no real hardware related to the concept, making the installation very light. The innovation is in the biodegradable materials used, and the machines. We looked at how the lights could impact the floatables. With an entry and an exit point, creating two dots of light on the floatable that we could change the colour of. We wanted to fade the lights to black, to enhance the mysterie. The floatables are carried by the wind, as a flock of birds travel through the sky. The wind comes from the wind machine and natural wind, depending on the weather conditions. And the floatables are created by the floatable machine. This needed to be good for people and nature. ​

We expect there to be a shift in our mindset where we will search for sustainable alternatives to celebrate. After the launch of SPARK earlier this year, the first “booking” is there. In June SPARK will be shown to the public in Bilbao, then open again after COVID. We anticipate more requests for cities, memorial days, new years, parties, festivals, etc. It’s scalable and available to book around the globe. It is a different way of celebrating, since it is silent and will create an implosion of joy in your system.