After the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, which caused seven meltdowns at three nuclear reactors, energy efficiency and alternative energy sources received intensified interest in Japan. One year later, the 2012 Smart Illumination Yokohama Festival commissioned the international debut of Speed of Light. The festival focused on sustainability and showcased LED lights, solar panels, and other green energy generation and storage techniques. Speed of Light, an artistic intervention, was developed by NVA, a Scottish public art organization whose work seeks to redefine urban and rural landscapes through collective action. NVA is an acronym of nacionale vitae activa, a Latin phrase describing ‘the right to influence public affairs.’