The invention concerns a lighting element (1) containing a dielectric layer (5) of a metal oxide with a front surface and a back surface, where the dielectric layer (5) contains an arrangement of elongated pores (8) extending between front and back surfaces through the dielectric layer (5) and the pores (8) are open to the front surface, and a base electrode (7) made from an electrically conductive material is arranged on the back surface, and in the pores (8) are arranged emitter rods (4) of an electrically conductive material, and a translucent layer of counter-electrode (2) of an electrically conductive material is arranged over the front surface of the dielectric layer (5), and a layer of luminescent material (3) is arranged between the dielectric layer (5) and the base electrode (7). The layer of counter-electrode (2) is a part of the layer system of the lighting element (1), where the dielectric layer (5) has the function of a spacer and separates the base electrode (7) from the counter-electrode (2). The invention also concerns the use of such a lighting element on walls and facades of buildings, as a background light source for liquid crystal displays or as self-illuminating displays or signs.