Island of Light on Smögen – when the rocks are illuminated by art

Text and photo: Helena Bergström

Darkness descends over Smögen and the boat slowly glides out onto the almost black water. All around us, the rocks lie like dark silhouettes against the sky. But then suddenly something starts to move across the mountain in front of us… Shapes emerge, change and disappear. The rocks have suddenly become a gigantic canvas.

We visited Smögen during a press screening of Island of Light, an international light art festival where artists from different parts of the world use the Bohuslän landscape as a backdrop for their creations. The festival runs from 4–13 September 2026 and for ten evenings parts of Smögen are transformed into a large art area under the open sky.

Island of Light – light art on Smögen

Island of Light was first organized in 2018 and is run by the non-profit organization Smögen Art-light Festival. Artists from different parts of the world are invited to create site-specific works, where Smögen not only serves as a backdrop but also becomes part of the art itself.

Cliffs, sea, water surfaces, boathouses and darkness are used in different ways in the installations. Several of the international artists have spent time on Smögen ahead of the festival to develop their works on site.

When we met the people behind the festival in a classic boathouse on Smögen, it was also clear how much commitment lies behind the arrangement. There are enthusiasts here who have worked with the festival for a long time, while the artists have spent many, many hours making their installations work together with an environment where both rocks, wind and sea play by their own rules.

Seeing the light art from the sea

After the presentation, we had the chance to discover the art, both from the water and from land. We started with a boat trip, and set out on the sea just as the daylight was fading. Seeing the installations from the water proved to be something truly special.

One of the works that made the strongest impression on us was Post Natural: Living Plankton by French artist Miguel Chevalier, an internationally established pioneer in digital and virtual art.

His work is projected onto the bare granite cliffs of Smögen and is inspired by plankton and marine life. Shapes are born, move and change across the rock, creating the feeling of a gigantic living ecosystem.

From the boat, the experience was almost magical. We glided through the dark, still water while an entire universe seemed to move over the rocks in front of us. Suddenly, the shadow of the boat slid in and blended with the light, as if we ourselves had become part of the artwork.

Smögen becomes an art gallery in the dark

When the boat trip was over, we continued with a walk through a night-black Smögen. We followed the blue lights from artwork to artwork.

During the evening we saw works by Aleksandra Stratimirović, who has been part of the creative team behind Island of Light since its inception and describes her relationship with Smögen as a form of symbiosis. Her work for this year's festival has also been named Symbiosis.

We also walked to a parking lot that had been transformed into something completely other. The installation Narcissus Private Parking by Eric Langendoen cannot be explained but simply has to be experienced.

Furthermore, we were fascinated by Shining Fields by Latvian company Those Guys Lighting. More than 400 tall strands of light form a kind of luminous reed field where light and sound move together.

Fishing boat as light art and cinema on the rocks

It was impossible to see everything in one evening, and we only saw a small part of what the festival had to offer. This year's works also include: Marble, where the local fishing boat Gullbris has been given a whole new life and transformed into a work of light art.

Another exciting surprise is Cinema on the Rocks, where films are projected directly onto the rocks. In addition, there are lots of different programs and activities during the ten days that the festival lasts.

See the Island of Light from a boat

Festival visitors can experience the artworks both from land and sea. Every festival evening, the small passenger boat Calypso around Smögen on three occasions. Tickets are sold on board and are on a first-come, first-served basis.

From our own experience, we can say that the perspective from the sea really adds something. From here you can see how the light spreads over the rocks and how the art is reflected in the water. But don't miss the walk on land either!

Island of Light by motorhome

We visited Smögen by camper and stayed overnight at Park and Stay, from where we could easily walk to the festival area. This worked very smoothly for us. During the festival days, it is possible that both parking spaces and parking lots fill up quickly, so it may be wise to plan and arrive well in advance.

Take the opportunity to experience Smögen

When visiting Smögen There are of course more reasons to stay a while. It is always nice to stroll along Smögenbryggan, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and of course the delicious seafood. If you come during the festival, then just wait until darkness ... and the spectacle that follows!