Christmas in Madrid shines again with the lighting designs created by ACME’s designers. Juan Vidal, Maya Hansen and Teresa Helbig make their debut in this project, joining Andrés Sardá, Devota & Lomba and Duyos. All of them have placed their work at the service of Madrid by not charging for their creations with the aim of generating a project of hope during these very special festivities.
This collaboration is produced due to the agreement signed by Madrid’s City Council and ACME, once again participating in lighting up Madrid with the help of six leading fashion designers. On this occasion, Juan Vidal brightens up Calle Preciados; Maya Hansen shines in Calle Montera; Teresa Helbig adorns Calle Fuencarral; the Andrés Sardá firm once again dresses up a large Menina that illuminates the Paseo del Prado. Also, this year, Devota & Lomba makes the emblematic Puerta del Sol shine brightly with an impressive Christmas tree, while Duyos embellishes calle Goya with his lighting design.
Juan Vidal premiers in this project with a romantic design in red, with a big heart as the protagonist, to illuminate calle Preciados, one of the most representative shopping streets in Madrid. “In times where we find more and more differences that separate us, therefore making us vulnerable, the heart is a clear and powerful message. Love, infinite and unconditional, is a greater objective that unites and gives direction to our existence ”, explains the fashion designer.
Maya Hansen is inspired by the world of skating and the work of iconic graffiti artist Muelle to create her lighting designs for Calle Montera. “I have wanted to mix traditional elements such as the classic Christmas bells, reindeer or ice skates, with emblematic elements of my work such as the corset that can be seen at the centre of the installation, and whose loop ends with and allusion to the signature of graffiti artist Juan Carlos Argüelles , a.k.a ‘Muelle’, a very characteristic element of Calle Montera ”, mentions the Madrid designer.
Teresa Helbig is another of the new additions to this project. The designer has created for Calle Fuencarral a fun and irreverent design that captures her entire creative universe. “We have always felt a special connection with lemurs, because of their innate communication skills, because they are flirtatious and conceited, because they are promoters of feminism in the animal kingdom… That is why we wanted them to star in the lights we have designed. Through their eyes, we celebrate mischief, innate sensitivity and intelligence, the sixth sense, freedom and femininity”, states the fashion designer.
Nuria Sardá, creative director of Andrés Sardá, dresses a large 10-meter-high Menina that can be seen this year in the Paseo del Prado. Her design is based on a bustier, panier and skirt illuminated by 37,720 led bulbs, plastic diamonds, sequins and silver coloured balls. Sardá has developed her design in collaboration with the Meninas Madrid Gallery project by artist Azzato and Madrid Capital de Moda.
The firm Devota & Lomba is the author of the great tree that once again illuminates the emblematic Puerta del Sol. Geometry and origami are the protagonists of this design, hallmarks of the brand directed by Modesto Lomba
Juan Duyos illuminates Calle Goya again with a large garland made up of colourful led bulbs, for which the lines of classic jewellery and the power transmitted by precious stones have inspired him.
The union of ACME designers with Christmas in Madrid has a long history. This synergy between the best fashion creators and lighting-up the capital, Madrid, began in 2006 and since then many designers have had the privilege of dressing-up Madrid by giving their creations in the most hope filled festivities of the year.
