This year, the Light Leaks Festival takes its exhibition outdoors, centering entirely on the theme of Luxembourg’s iconic “Quartier de la Gare.” Through a variety of lenses, the exhibition captures the life, character, and unique atmosphere of this vibrant neighborhood. By moving the exhibition from the Galerie des Rotondes, currently under renovation, to the streets of the Gare district, the festival becomes more accessible, bringing the artwork directly to the community it reflects.

“Mäi Quartier” - Place de Strasbourg

A central feature of the exhibition is the "Mäi Quartier" project, an initiative by the Luxembourg Streetphoto Collective. In this project, single-use film cameras were distributed to individuals living and working in the Gare neighborhood—including the Club des Jeunes, and local residents—who were invited to document their daily lives and surroundings. Their photographs, displayed in the prominent outdoor space at the Place de Strasbourg, provide an intimate, unfiltered view of the district through personal and diverse perspectives.

The exhibition will officially open at 16:30 at Place de Strasbourg, in the presence of Mayor Lydie Polfer.

Collective outdoor exhibition - Parvis des Rotondes

The exhibition also highlights large-scale street photography by members of the Luxembourg Streetphoto Collective, the winner of the 2024 Slidenight, and students from the Lycée Aline Mayrisch and Lycée des Arts et Métiers which will be showcased on the Parvis des Rotondes.

As part of the Light Leaks Festival, high school students participate in the Youth Contest, exploring street photography through the theme of the "Quartier de la Gare." Over the year, they work on this project capturing the neighborhood’s essence. A jury of photographers and teachers will select the most compelling images, with the winners honored during the winner announcement on Sunday, May 18th, recognizing the creativity and talent of the younger generation.

“Loop & Cube” - Klub

The Loop & Cube installations in the Klub offer an immersive exploration of the Gare, expanding on the festival’s broader themes of movement and permanence. "The Rock in the River" by Liz Lambert & Dirk Mevis, examines the Luxembourg Gare as a fixed point amid constant human flow. Like a rock in a river, the station disrupts, redirects, and occasionally traps those who pass through. It is a place of fleeting encounters, silent intersections, and life-changing moments. Liz and Dirk capture both the grand motion of the station and the intimate pauses within it—people momentarily caught before being swept away again. Their work reveals the quiet poetry of transit, where lives brush against each other, unnoticed yet connected by the same restless current.

Photothèque du Luxembourg - Passerelle CFL

The Photothèque du Luxembourg enriches the festival by presenting a carefully curated selection of historical photographs from its extensive archive. These images, displayed on the Passerelle de la Gare, offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, showcasing the evolution of the neighborhood and its role in the city’s history. By juxtaposing archival images with contemporary street photography, this exhibition creates a visual dialogue between past and present, allowing viewers to reflect on the transformations of urban life over time.