Lyon Creative Lighting Forum
Keynote
Philippe Geluck, Artist and Cartoonist – Creator of Le Chat
A veritable one-man-band, illustrator, comedian, actor, and man of radio and television, Philippe Geluck was born in Brussels in 1954 into a family steeped in the arts.
In 1976, he founds the Théâtre Hypocrite and, for ten years or so, he pursues his career as an actor in Belgium’s leading theatres.
On March 22, 1983, at the request of Le Soir, Le Chat appeared for the first time in a supplement to the daily newspaper. More than 8,000 drawings have been published there since then.
From 1979 to 2006, he created, hosted and took part in thousands of radio and TV programmes in Belgium, for RTBF, Belgium’s national francophone broadcaster, and RTL, and in France – France 2, France Inter, Europe 1. He appears regularly on the prime-time TV shows of Michel Drucker and Laurent Ruquier.
At the same time, he draws and paints and exhibits his wacko drawings and watercolours in galleries in Brussels, Paris, London, Milan, Copenhagen, Neuchâtel and Dallas, New York, …
In 2003, the major exhibition ‘Le Chat s’expose’ celebrates 20 years of our feline hero, drawing more than 350,000 visitors in Paris, Brussels, Bordeaux and Rennes. In 2016, ‘L’art et Le Chat’ initiates visitors, young and old, into key works in the history of art – with Geluck’s typical humour. Since then, drawings, canvasses and sculptures by Philippe Geluck have been exhibited in numerous contemporary galleries and art fairs.
Since 1986, 25 albums of Le Cat have been published by Casterman, as well as six best-of’s, a number of books and collections of biting cartoons, and three exhibition catalogues: ‘Le Chat s’expose’, ‘Art and Le Cat’, and ‘Le Cat Walks’.
Philippe Geluck is now actively working on the Musée du Chat et du dessin d’humour, which will open in Brussels. In the meantime, he is organising a travelling exhibition of 20 monumental bronze sculptures. ‘Le Chat déambule’ was inaugurated on the Champs Élysées in Paris in 2021 before moving on to a dozen of European cities. If you are coming to Lyon for the Creative Lighting Forum, you’ll have the opportunity to visit his sculptures of Le Chat, on display in the “Tête d’Or” park.
Speakers
Philip Ross, Owner – Studio Philip Ross
Philip Ross is a light designer, artist and researcher, based in Eindhoven the Netherlands. The intersection of art, design, and science serves as an endless source of inspiration for his work. These works are always open: co-shaped by people and the environment.
Philip exhibits internationally at light festivals, writes about light and is a regularly invited speaker.
From January 2026 onwards, he will continue to explore the versatile potential of light art as director of GLOW Eindhoven.
Sebnem Gemalmaz, Associate and Urban Lighting Lead – Arup
Sebnem Gemalmaz is an urban planner and lighting designer with 19 years of experience and dual master’s degrees in urban design (YTU) and Lighting Design (KTH). She headed Arup’s lighting business in Istanbul for 11 years, delivering large-scale urban projects and lighting plans that embed social value, sustainability, and inclusive design. From Stockholm to Shah Alam, she has led strategic lighting projects across several cities.
Now based in Dublin, Sebnem works internationally, advancing lighting approaches that respond to the emotional and social dimensions of cities. Sebnem brings a distinctive urbanist lens to lighting, weaving together philosophy, urban design, and sociology to create engaging and equitable public spaces. Her work pays particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups and the role of play in fostering connection and joy in nighttime environments.
Named one of the international 40 under 40 lighting designers in 2019, Sebnem is also an ambassador for the Women in Lighting movement and a guest lecturer at several universities.
Lionel Bessières, Lighting designer – Quartiers Lumières, and Secretary – Association des Concepteurs Lumière et Eclairagistes
Lionel Bessières is a lighting designer and ENSIP-trained engineer with a deep passion for the magic of light. He began his career as an assistant to renowned designer Pierre Bideau, contributing to major projects such as the illumination of the Eiffel Tower and the lighting of other prestigious heritage sites.
Since 2006, he has led Quartiers Lumières, a lighting design agency known for combining creativity and technical precision through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. His key projects include the Hédas district in Pau, the Capitole, the Valentré Bridge in Cahors, and several Lighting Master Plans, Dark Sky frameworks, and urban design projects across France.
Carolina Scorsone, Lighting Designer – Quartiers Lumières & Association des Concepteurs Lumière et Eclairagistes
Carolina Scorsone is a certified architect from the IUAV University of Architecture in Venice and has been a lighting designer since 2017. She developed her knowledge and sensitivity to light at the Voyons Voir agency in Paris, specialised in indoor lighting for the luxury sector. There, she designed and managed numerous projects in France and abroad, tefining her technical expertise and her understanding of lighting environments.
Since 2022, she has been a lighting designer for Quartiers Lumières, where she has been developing her skills through various public projects. She works on both indoor and outdoor realisations, at different scales, bringing rigour and precision while cultivating a creative mind and a sensitive approach to light.
Julien Pavillard, Director of the Fête des Lumières – City of Lyon
Julien Pavillard is the Director of Events and Animation for the City of Lyon and has served as Director of the Fête des Lumières since 2020, where he also oversees the artistic direction.
After working as a social sciences researcher, he turned to the performing arts, cultural events, and large-scale image projection, leading him to collaborate on major international projects. He joined the City of Lyon in 2005 to take charge of the artistic direction of major Fête des Lumières projects until 2009.
He later founded and directed the agency Congo Bleu until 2020, through which he worked on numerous international events — creating lighting projects and image projections, as well as founding or directing several light festivals, notably in Tokyo, Schaerbeek (Brussels), Moscow, and Geneva.
Moderator
Jasmine van der Pol, Senior Programme Manager – LUCI Association
Jasmine van der Pol is programme manager at LUCI since 2022. With her international experience in the field of urban lighting, Jasmine helps to develop and support knowledge exchange within the LUCI network. She has the ambition to serve the urban lighting community and promote good lighting practices.
She contributes to various Working Groups and supports LUCI’s events and activities. Before joining LUCI, Jasmine worked as a lighting expert for an international manufacturer, engineering companies and lighting design agencies.