Mapsion 2025 winners unveiled
Katsuhiko Kajitani wins International Video Mapping Competition in Jyväskylä
The Mapsion 2025 international video mapping competition concluded in Jyväskylä, Finland, with Japanese artist Katsuhiko Kajitani (Kajiken) taking first place for his piece Dance of Northern Lights. The work impressed the jury from the outset and also earned enthusiastic applause from the audience gathered in Kirkkopuisto park.
Photos: ©Niko Tiainen, Mapsion
Second place was awarded to Studio Moebius (India) for Fragments, while third place went to Sami Voutilainen & Tuomas Virtanen (Finland) for Drifting Silence. The jury also granted an honourable mention to Finnish artist Tuukka Toijanniemi for AGORA OF LIGHT, recognising its distinct style and original concept.
The jury evaluated each entry on visual impact, technical execution, sound design, narrative structure, and overall artistic coherence. Kajitani’s winning work stood out for its precision time-coding, bespoke musical composition, and well-crafted dramatic progression. The jury highlighted the high level of craftsmanship and the professional experience evident across all awarded works.
Despite rainy weather, the public event drew several hundred spectators to the park and reached a global audience through a live online stream. According to competition founder Niko Tiainen, the strong response reflects Jyväskylä’s growing international reputation as the City of Light. This year’s competition received 36 entries from 21 countries, with 17 finalist works projected onto the façade of Jyväskylä City Hall.
All submitted works—including the finalists and off-programme pieces—will remain on public display until mid-November.
Mapsion will remain in Jyväskylä for the next two editions under a formal cooperation agreement between the organisers and the municipality. The competition will run in parallel with the annual City of Light festival, strengthening the local programme dedicated to creative light-based art.
