Dezeen Magazine

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Fourneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Spraying a wall with water creates graffiti with tiny points of light instead of paint in this installation by French artist Antonin Fourneau (+ movie).

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Water Light Graffiti is made of thousands of LED lights that light up when they come into contact with water.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Participants can use paintbrushes, sponges, fingers or spray cans to sketch out words and pictures.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

The project was unveiled in Poitiers, France, between 22 and 24 July this year while Fourneau was in residence at the DigitalArti Artlab.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Other projects involving water we've featured recently include a sprinkler that paints rainbows and a series of fountains with added furniture.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Photographs are by Quentin Chevrier at DigitalArti Artlab.

Here's some more information about the project:


Water Light Graffiti is a surface made of thousands of LEDs illuminated by the contact of water. You can use a paintbrush, a water atomizer, your fingers or anything damp to sketch a brightness message or just to draw.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Water Light Graffiti is a wall for ephemeral messages in the urban space without deterioration. A wall to communicate and share magically in the city. For a few weeks, Antonin Fourneau has been working in residence at Digitalarti Artlab on the Water Light Graffiti project.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

After several tries, prototypes and material improvements, Water Light Graffiti was finally ready to take place for a few days in a public space, which happened to be Poitiers. From July 22nd to 24th, Poitiers inhabitants could discover and try Water Light Graffiti with the artist, the Digitalarti Artlab team and Painthouse, a graffiti collective, invited for demonstrations.

Water Light Graffiti by Antonin Forneau for DigitalArti Artlab

Water Light Graffiti is a project by Antonin Fourneau.
Engineer: Jordan McRae
Design Structure: Guillaume Stagnaro
Graffiti performance: Collectif Painthouse
Assistant team: Clement Ducerf and all the ArtLab volunteers
ArtLab Manager: Jason Cook
Filming: Sarah Taurinya & Quentin Chevrier
Photographs: Quentin Chevrier
Music: Jankenpopp
Editing and titles: Formidable Studio and Maïa Bompoutou
Support: Ville de Poitiers and Centre Culturel Saint Exupéry