Read about a previous Lumiere festival in Londonderry/Derry here
People have been known to wince at the sight of public art – or even walk past it without noticing. However the upcoming Lumiere London project from Artichoke is an example of public art that you can’t ignore. From 14-17th January (6.30-10.30pm) journey into the heart of the capital to explore the new dazzling night-time gallery and seeing familiar sights in a new light.
Lumiere already has a successful history. It premiered in Durham in 2009 and has been recommissioned by Durham County Council every two years since then. In 2013 it also took place in Derry/Londonderry, the UK City of Culture, commissioned by Culture Company 2013.
Free to attend, the festival will re-imagine London’s urban landscape and architecture in 30 artworks across four main areas: King’s Cross; Mayfair and Grosvenor Square; Piccadilly, Regent Street, Leicester Square and St James’s; and Trafalgar Square and Westminster.
There are easy walking routes between many of the 30 exhibits and plenty of opportunities to stay and linger over a drink or a meal at the many venues and attractions along the way.
Suggested walking routes include: from Leicester Square through to Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey; from Piccadilly Circus to Grosvenor Square via Piccadilly Arcade and St James’s; along Regent Street via Carnaby to Oxford Circus; and from Euston Road to King’s Cross, Granary Square and beyond. The festival map will be available to download at www.visitlondon.com/lumiere and will be distributed to festival visitors in London’s West End and King’s Cross during the event.
NEWLY-ANNOUNCED INSTALLATIONS INCLUDE:
At Westminster Abbey, French digital artist Patrice Warrener will use his chromolithe technique to “paint” the Abbey’s West Gate in an electric riot of colour. The Light of the Spirit will highlight the series of stone statues above the Great West Door including Dr Martin Luther King and El Salvadorean Bishop Oscar Romero, as well as parts of the two Western Towers built by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.
In Piccadilly, the Lumineoles light sculptures will dance with the elements, while on the façade of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, leading stars and directors of British screen and TV will appear as part of 195 Piccadilly, a dynamic, technicolour artwork by Newcastle-based studio NOVAK, with a striking soundtrack by Ed Carter. Exploring the different genres of cinema and television and using images from BAFTA’s archive, including Michael Caine, Olivia Coleman, Idris Elba, Steve McQueen, and Julie Walters, the piece will draw out the architectural features of the building and refer to its origins as the home of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. (Supported by Levy Real Estate and in partnership with Heart of London Business Alliance and BAFTA 195 Piccadilly)
At King’s Cross, visitors will be able to explore the area, its buildings and spaces through 11 installations and projected artworks, including Circus of Light, a magical animation across the breadth of the repurposed Granary Building especially commissioned for the festival from Portuguese studio Ocubo, and Diver by Ron Haselden, a 17-metre light sculpture at the King’s Cross Swimming Pond Club.
Leave a Reply