“Light of the Centuries”
Interactive public art

ABOUT THE PROJECT

“Light of the Centuries” is a large-scale interactive light-and-sound installation dedicated to the history of the people who inhabited the territory of modern Kazakhstan over the course of twenty centuries. The project reinterprets history not as a sequence of dates and facts, but as a living process—told through the language of light, space, and human interaction with architecture.

The installation creates an open public space where the past becomes tangible and history turns into a personal experience.

ARCHITECTURE OF TIME

At the core of the composition is an ensemble of 20 vertical light columns, each representing one century of history. The columns are made of white light-diffusing polycarbonate and filled with a soft, living glow that creates a sense of presence and depth.

Metal rings in a golden finish, varying in diameter and width, are placed on the surface of the columns as visual layers of time. They reflect the density of life, the accumulation of experience, and the memory of generations. The height of each column is directly linked to the population size of its respective century, forming an intuitively readable landscape of time.

The composition is not arranged as a linear route: the space is organized freely, allowing visitors to choose their own path and enter into a dialogue with different eras.

PEOPLE AND NAMES

Each column contains concise information about its century: the time period, population size, average life expectancy, the character of the era, and the way of life of its people. Special attention is given to the names of outstanding individuals—thinkers, scholars, poets, rulers, and cultural and social figures—who made a significant contribution to the development of the region.

The project emphasizes that a country’s history is shaped not by abstract processes, but by real people and their lives.

INTERACTIVITY AND DIALOGUE WITH AN ERA

“Light of the Centuries” responds to human touch. At the moment of contact, a unique light scenario and sound response are activated inside the column, creating the feeling of a dialogue between the person and the era.

Each interaction is unique: light and sound change as if the column is “telling” its story in its own language. The space fills with a multilayered soundscape that reflects the rhythm, character, and emotional atmosphere of time.

Here, history is not observed from the outside—it is lived.

WHY INTERACTIVITY IS FUNDAMENTAL

The interactive format is a deliberate choice: it allows a person to become part of history rather than a passive observer. Physical touch creates an emotional connection with the past, uniting generations through personal experience. This approach makes history bodily, alive, and memorable—something that cannot be fully conveyed through a book, a screen, or a lecture.

A NEW POINT OF ATTRACTION AND A CULTURAL SYMBOL

“Light of the Centuries” is conceived as a new point of attraction for residents and visitors from around the world. The installation becomes a place for meetings, walks, contemplation, and dialogue, as well as a powerful visual and cultural accent in the urban environment.

Designed for long-term presence in the city, the project is expected to attract millions of visitors and generate countless photos and videos shared on social media—shaping a recognizable image of the country far beyond its borders.

EDUCATIONAL MISSION

The installation functions as a unique educational space. Here, schoolchildren and students can not only learn historical facts, but also feel the scale of time, understand the value of human life, and reflect on responsibility toward future generations.

The project fosters respect for history, ancestral memory, and cultural heritage.

MOBILE APPLICATION — HISTORY IN YOUR PHONE

A dedicated mobile application is being developed to extend the physical installation into a digital dimension. The app will allow users to:

• access detailed information about each century;
• explore key events, people, and cultural contexts of each era;
• dive deeper into history through texts, audio, and visual materials.

The application will be available in multiple languages, making the project accessible and engaging for an international audience.

THE CORE IDEA

“Light of the Centuries” is the history of people told through light.
A space where every century becomes a living interlocutor, and every person becomes part of the great history of their country.