Light-sensitive Walks

Light-sensitive walks

Through 'Light-Sensitive Walks' Titia Ex explores the transition between day and night in our living environment. By focusing on the interplay of light and dark, a new, more conscious relationship with the place where we live emerges.

In a 24/7 city, where artificial light and constant stimuli influence our rhythm, the walks invite us to slow down and reorient ourselves. They make tangible what the disappearance of darkness means for our bodies, our rest, and our experience of time and space.

The walks offer an intimate, sensory experience at the intersection of natural rhythms and technological interventions. The rhythm of light and dark serves as the starting point, with a focus on the well-being of people and their environment.

Licht-sensitieve wandelingen

Met 'Licht-sensitieve wandelingen' verkent Titia Ex de overgang tussen dag en nacht in onze leefomgeving. Door aandacht te geven aan het samenspel van licht en donker ontstaat een nieuwe, bewustere relatie met de plek waarin we leven.

In een 24/7-stad, waar kunstlicht en voortdurende prikkels ons ritme beïnvloeden, nodigen de wandelingen uit tot vertraging en heroriëntatie. Ze maken voelbaar wat het verdwijnen van donker betekend voor ons lichaam, onze rust en onze beleving van tijd en ruimte.

De wandelingen bieden een intieme, zintuiglijke ervaring op het snijvlak van natuurlijke ritmes en technologische ingrepen. Het ritme van licht en donker vormt daarbij het vertrekpunt, met aandacht voor welzijn van mens en leefomgeving.

Professional Reflection: Learning to See the City Through Dark and Light

During several light-sensitive walks led by Titia Ex, I learned to experience the city in a completely different way. Together with residents, politicians, police officers, and municipal professionals, I explored familiar streets through a new lens, focusing on the relationship between light, darkness, and human experience.

What impressed me most was Titia’s ability to show that light is never neutral. She demonstrated how lighting influences our sense of safety, comfort, orientation, and connection to a place. By paying attention to shadows, contrast, colour, and atmosphere, I became much more aware of how urban spaces affect our emotions and behaviour.

These walks changed the way I look at the city. They taught me that darkness is just as important as light, and that both play a vital role in creating meaningful and welcoming public spaces.

Marlies van den Hoek MA CPC, Senior Strategic Advisor.
Department of Traffic & Public Space, City of Amsterdam

Walking tours with groups: studio@titiaex.nl