This project examines the environmental and cultural consequences of artificial light at night. The series addresses light pollution as both an ecological issue and a symbolic rupture, documenting the gradual disappearance of the Milky Way. Through images of urban and peripheral landscapes illuminated by artificial glow, the project situates darkness as a shared natural resource that has been progressively eroded by modern infrastructure.

The work traces the effects of excessive nocturnal lighting across multiple scales, from human health to nonhuman ecosystems. Balsamini and Panizza reference disruptions of our circadian rhythms and their association with increased rates of illness, while also documenting the impact on migratory birds, insects, and plant life that depend on natural cycles of light and dark. Alongside these observations, Protege Noctem records emerging efforts to mitigate light pollution, including citizen-led initiatives and policy discussions within the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Framed as both documentation and advocacy, the project positions the preservation of darkness as integral to ecological balance and continuity.