Science & Technology

How Light and Code Can Transform a City | Leo Villareal | TED

Published

1 year ago

March 28, 2025

Leo Villareal is an artist, but his tools aren’t paint and canvas; he manipulates light, color and computer code to create monumental works of public art. In a dazzling talk, he takes us inside his efforts to light up some of the world’s most iconic bridges — including an installation of 25,000 LED lights on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge and a piece uniting nine bridges along London’s River Thames — and shows how public art can transform a city. (Recorded at TEDNext 2024 on October 22, 2024)

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26 Comments

@Eva-w3c6e

March 28, 2025 at 7:04 am

Fascinated by your creativity! The videos are always top notch and I am grateful for your efforts in creating such interesting content.🐡🦁😂

Reply
@Mia-y4n7p

March 28, 2025 at 7:05 am

I was simply amazed by your work and couldn’t pass by without expressing my admiration. Your talent deserves admiration. Thank you for your creativity.
❤️❤️ 6 🐪

Reply
@sooma-ai

March 28, 2025 at 7:12 am

Artist Leo Villareal uses light, code, and technology to create large-scale public art installations, transforming iconic bridges in San Francisco and London. His work, inspired by experiences at Burning Man, aims to change perceptions and bring people together through mesmerizing light displays.

Reply
@dennislutgens8693

March 28, 2025 at 7:14 am

Thank you for being a major contributor of light polution…

Reply
@graceb947

March 28, 2025 at 7:25 am

Very well said!🙌💫🌟💫💡

Reply
@微中年台客

March 28, 2025 at 7:30 am

“A popular and intelligent leader of Taiwan’s third-largest political party is being persecuted by the judiciary. Without evidence, he has been detained for 7 months now, and he is currently experiencing hematuria. They won’t allow him to seek medical treatment and continue to detain him. The ruling party in Taiwan has completely staged this, controlling even the courts and judges for political purposes. Please help save the chairman of Taiwan’s third-largest party! He was the first doctor to introduce ECMO to Taiwan and has saved countless lives. I implore international human rights supporters to pressure the ruling party in Taiwan to release him. Please.”

Reply
@DominionAnako-bb7ry

March 28, 2025 at 7:42 am

Beautiful message ❤️ 💖 💕 ♥️

Reply
@KMHill

March 28, 2025 at 7:48 am

Light pollution and energy waste.

Reply
@pinealgasm

March 28, 2025 at 7:57 am

i challenge anyone to document how difficult it is to get me the help i need.

Reply
- @subbasslines
  
  March 28, 2025 at 10:19 am
  
  It all starts with you.
  Without acknowledging the problems first, nothing will change.
  If you focus on solutions, you can make progress.
  
  Reply
- @pinealgasm
  
  March 28, 2025 at 10:21 am
  
  @subbasslines that’s ableism!
  
  Reply
- @subbasslines
  
  March 28, 2025 at 10:44 am
  
  @@pinealgasm no it’s not!
  I basically said, lay your cards out, focus on desired results and people can help you.
  
  Reply
- @pinealgasm
  
  March 28, 2025 at 10:46 am
  
  @subbasslines you imply i don’t.
  
  Reply
- @subbasslines
  
  March 28, 2025 at 10:58 am
  
  @@pinealgasm You’re too quick to judge without understanding 😑
  I was trying to help, seems like you just want attention 😕
  
  Reply
@tjtampa214

March 28, 2025 at 9:21 am

Pretty – but so intrusive to the life that lives in the water below that are part of the circle of life. Some concerned groups care so much about even an individual species that they will protest and change laws, and then there’s groups like this with more selfish intent. OK, lights for safety and, hopefully, beauty (although he mentioned entrainment – no thank you). But safety lighting can be on top of the bridge near the foot level of the traveller’s, appropriately directed light that makes sense but still attractive. Also, it would save tons of money on electricity and maintenance with fewer lights and not so extravagant.

Reply
- @subbasslines
  
  March 28, 2025 at 10:35 am
  
  Settle down. It’s a gentle light show. Are you paying the bills?
  There are so many wasteful companies industries and you attack a guy, trying to shine a little bit of light into people’s dark lives.
  
  Lights attract fish if you went fishing, you would know that.
  
  Reply
- @BonnieShadow33
  
  March 28, 2025 at 8:34 pm
  
  I thought about this, too. Lights at night disrupt the circadian rhythms of both humans and wildlife, including fish. Also, city lights interfere with our view of the night sky – a natural wonder that too many city folk never get to see.
  
  I wish this artist would take those things into account when designing lightscapes.
  
  Reply
@harrypearle9781

March 28, 2025 at 9:35 am

LIGHTS of AWAKENING in times of TRUMP DARKNESS?
LINK to encourage us to THINK and save US from Trump 2.0 INSANITY ?
===================================================== TNX MCH

Reply
@harrypearle9781

March 28, 2025 at 9:54 am

DEMOCRATS might use LIGHT LINKS to point to TRUTH and TRUMP LIES !
Rambling on and on, in the media, is NOT, NOT working for DEMOCRATS.
(Why don;t Democrats have IDEA CONTESTS to find MEDIA that wakes up voters?)
??????????????????????????????????? TNX LEO ????????????????????????????????

Reply
- @harrypearle9781
  
  March 28, 2025 at 9:54 am
  
  tnx mch
  
  Reply
@ChristopherBak1

March 28, 2025 at 3:47 pm

You work for 42yrs to have $2m in your retirement, Meanwhile some people are putting just $20k in a meme coin for just few months and now they are multi millionaires. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life

Reply
- @ChristopherBak1
  
  March 28, 2025 at 4:04 pm
  
  Maria Davis program is widely available online..
  
  Reply
@KnowledgeBites-73

March 28, 2025 at 6:26 pm

THANKS

Reply
@jwestney2859

March 28, 2025 at 9:04 pm

Light is beauty! …if it’s done with talent.

Reply
@urbanstrencan

March 29, 2025 at 3:25 pm

What a great talk

Reply
@lundy_cl

March 30, 2025 at 7:42 pm

🤝💯

Reply

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