In 2017, during the Lumina Light Festival in Cascais, I conducted a large-scale survey as part of my ethnographic research on light festivals and nighttime urban experiences. This work would later become a central component of my doctoral thesis in sociology.
Recently, Ocubo, the artistic studio and main organizer of Lumina, produced a short video that documents the survey research we carried out during the festival. The video offers insight into the data collection process, the public’s engagement with the artworks, and the broader aim of understanding how light art transforms public space and social interaction at night.
This fieldwork was foundational in shaping my thesis, allowing me to explore the intersection between culture, tourism, and urban transformation. The survey captured not only visitor profiles and motivations but also perceptions of atmosphere, aesthetic experience, and territorial belonging—essential dimensions for understanding contemporary urban nightscapes.
I am grateful to Ocubo for valuing this academic contribution and for helping to make the research process visible.
You can watch the video and learn more about the Lumina Festival and its impact on the city of Cascais.
Manuel Garcia-Ruiz 