16th May 2026
LIGHTINGS
To celebrate the International Day of Light, I am excited to announce an upcoming exhibition of new lightworks in my solo show titled “LIGHTINGS”.
This exhibition will take place at the Arcade Gallery in Maadi, Cairo, from June 04 to June 14.
More news soon …
Visit Ruairí O’Brien Light Art on Instagram: @ruairiobrien.light.artworks
Ruairí O’Brien’s lighting concept for Kraftwerk Mitte is based on the master plan for the transformation of the former power plant site into one of Dresden’s central cultural quarters. The concept reinforces the special character of the historic industrial architecture and translates the site’s former role as a place of energy production into a contemporary lighting language.
Linear light traces, illuminated axes and unique one-of-a-kind luminaires form a visible network across the urban space, connecting historic buildings, new cultural architecture, squares and pathways. The lighting fulfils the technical requirements of orientation, safety and exterior illumination, while also responding sensitively to the demands of historic preservation.
Beyond its functional role, the lighting design gives Kraftwerk Mitte a distinctive artistic identity. It creates a memorable nocturnal atmosphere and transforms this important cultural destination in Dresden into a unique, immersive experience of light — a night-time attraction within the city.
Client: DREWAG – Stadtwerke Dresden GmbH
Services: Lighting concept / cost estimate
Year: 2014
Ruairí O’Brien developed the concept for a place of remembrance in front of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, dedicated to the American track and field athlete James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens. At the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Owens won four gold medals in the 100 metres, long jump, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay, becoming the most successful athlete of the Games. His triumph powerfully disproved the racist ideology of National Socialism.
The memorial sculpture combines architecture, light, history and movement to create a spatial experience. A transparent structure in front of the stadium takes the 100-metre track as its narrative line. Reflective and optical elements direct sunlight during the day and, at night, create a precise drawing in light that makes Owens’ run, his speed and the moment of victory tangible. The result is a place between remembrance, perception and physical experience. Visitors do not simply look at a sculpture; they move along a story. Light, reflection, scale and rhythm make speed and time visible — inviting visitors to see, think, read, learn, ask and enjoy.
