021
TRAVELLING TO THE STARS
Media release of the British Embassy Berne, September, 10th 2022
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:
Travelling to the Stars
In a moving tribute to HM The Queen, the world renowned Swiss Light Artist Gerry Hofstetter has once again partnered with the British Embassy Berne to light up the skies above Switzerland.
Three months ago on the Occasion of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, Hofstetter realised projections onto the 4 Swiss mountains Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and Tschuggen, creating the world’s largest light art composition to honour HM The Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
He returned to the same mountains but this time raised his eyes to the skies.
Asked how best to encapsulate his feelings at her passing, Hofstetter stated:
“Light is hope. I don’t want to turn lights off for Her Majesty, I want to show that her memory, what she stood for, that unity, dignity and steadfastness, will remain over us forever. Her memory is transcendent.
Her husband, waiting patiently over the last 17 months, is there to welcome her to the next chapter and hold her hand as he has done so many times, but this time forever.”
The projections were beamed 9km onto the billowing clouds where they cascade into the developing ground fog to provide a moving ethereal canvas upon which to light up the 1.5km final tribute with back lit by the low passing full moon over the Alps. After months of dry cloudless nights in Switzerland it was incredibly fortunate - such conditions occur only once in 100 years. Almost like it was meant to be.