Amsterdam’s annual Festival of Lights is welcoming the New Year and banishing winter blahs with 36 illuminated installations around the city. This year’s theme “Existential” was interpreted by artists from a dozen countries, including the beloved human rights activist artist Ai Weiwei. Since this is Amsterdam, the light show can be viewed and enjoyed from both land and water.

My favorite works from this year’s festival are Driton Selmani’s “Eye to Eye”, which is colorfully warding-off the evil eye, and Ai Weiwei’s “Thinline”, which is a subtle 7.5 km long line of red light weaving through Amsterdam streets and canals.

The festival runs for three more weeks.