Due to safety concerns / Drone pilots disrupt the light show at the Elphi – Cancellation
A light show with hundreds of drones was supposed to create a spectacle in Hamburg. But even after the premiere, all follow-up appointments had to be canceled because strangers disrupted the show with their own drones.
Bitter end of an art installation at the Elbphilharmonie: According to the organizers, unknown persons massively disrupted the premiere of the light show “Breaking Waves” in the port of Hamburg with their own drones – and apparently caused numerous drones of the art event to crash. On Friday evening, therefore, the early end: The installation planned for the whole weekend was canceled due to safety concerns.
Actually, the drones of the DRIFT studio from the Netherlands should have moved to the sounds of music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and thus provided a spectacle on the Elbe. It is unclear who is responsible for the disturbances during the dress rehearsal and the premiere on Thursday.
Disruptions to the drone show in Hamburg: “Attack on the freedom of art”
Hamburg’s Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda (SPD) condemned the “targeted disruption” of the art installation on Twitter as an “attack on the freedom of art”, which an open society could not accept.
As stated in a press release, according to the aviation security authorities in Germany, there have never been disruptions to air traffic of “this intensity and aggressiveness”. Therefore, a reassessment of the security situation was necessary. Since it cannot be ruled out that the disruptions could occur again, a continuation of “Breaking Waves” to protect viewers and employees is irresponsible.
