No matter what happens, the phoenix always rises again. At least, that’s what the ancient Greeks believed. The mythical creature burns, only to be reborn from its ashes. When you look beyond the legend, it carries a message of hope and strength. And that’s exactly what the students of Fontys IDE Venlo want to share with you as a visitor.
In their light installation, the students depict a phoenix made from plastic waste. But you’ll need to put in a bit of effort to see it. Walk around the cubic frame. At first, you’ll only see pieces of plastic seemingly hanging at random. Until you find the right angle. There it is—the phoenix, in full glory. Three-dimensional and warmly lit by LED lights. As you move on, the phoenix disappears again, leaving you looking at nothing more than plastic waste hanging on a frame.
The project also carries multiple layers of meaning. The material in the installation is discarded waste, yet it can also be reused. Students, companies, and the university collaborated to collect the plastic for the installation, a joint effort in itself. And even viewing the object is best done together. Go on a quest to find the phoenix and share your experience. Do you see what I see?
The light artwork was developed in 2025 during the GLOW Academy, a place where young talent is given the opportunity to turn innovative ideas into reality.
About the artist
Phoenix was conceived and produced by four first year students from Fontys Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) in Venlo. Their core competencies are ideation and the industrial aspects of the design process, which are also clearly reflected in the design.
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