Lumiere London: 14th – 17th of January 2016

Art comes in many shapes and sizes. An exciting project that would definitely be worth your time is the Lumiere London festival, which takes place between the 14th and 17th of January.

Developed by creative producers Artichoke and supported by the Mayor of London, Lumiere London runs between 6.30-10.30pm. 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.

With founding support from Atom Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Heart of London Business Alliance, London & Partners and King’s Cross, plus additional support from a host of partners and sponsors, including Westminster City Council, Lumiere London will transform parts of London’s West End and King’s Cross into a glittering pedestrian playground.87931-lumiere-novak-195-piccadilly-1030

Lumiere London aims to attract Londoners and tourists alike into the heart of the capital during what is traditionally one of the quieter months of the year. Festival visitors are being encouraged to explore the dazzling night-time gallery on foot, discovering parts of the capital for the first time and seeing familiar sights in a new light.

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.

However, there will also be some road closures.

lumiere-map

What will you be able to see?

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, Michael Caine, 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.

Additional highlight include:

King’s Cross

  • Light Graffiti, Floating Pictures (Sweden) in collaboration with Digital Art Center (Stockholm University) and Pew Squa
  • Spectra-3: Lux, Field (UK). 

Previously announced installations in King’s Cross:

  • binaryWaves by Lab[au] (Belgium), Regent’s Canal
  • Joining the Dots by Cleary Connolly (Ireland/France), Battle Bridge Place
  • Litre of Light by Mick Stephenson (UK) with Central Saint Martins students and MyShelter Foundation Central Saint Martins Crossing
  • Platonic Spin by Nathaniel Rackowe (UK), Regent’s Place, Euston Road

West End

 

  • Elephantastic by Catherine Garret/Top’lá Design (France)
  • I Haven’t Changed my Mind in a Thousand Years, Beth Ross (UK) Two long-forgotten 11th century proverbs discovered in a medieval manuscript, re-written in neon and exhibited on the Piccadilly Arcade. (In partnership with Great Portland Estates)
  • Keyframes by Groupe LAPS/Thomas Veyssiére (France)
  • Luminéoles, Porté Par Le Vent (France)

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Previously announced installations in London’s West End

  • 1.8 London by Janet Echelman (US), Oxford Circus
  • Garden of Light by TILT (France), Leicester Square
  • Les Voyageurs by Cedric Le Borgne (France), St James’s
  • Shaida Walking 2015 by Julian Opie (UK), Broadwick Street

Mayfair/Grosvenor Square

  • Aquarium, Benedetto Bufalino & Benoit Deseille (France).
  • Brothers & Sisters, Ron Haselden (France)
  • Sanctuary, Sarah Blood (UK). 
  • Spinning Night in Living Colour, Elaine Buckholz (US).

Trafalgar Square

  • Centrepoint. (Supported by Almacantar)
  • Plastic Islands, Luzinterruptus (Spain).

The full festival programme can be downloaded along with further details from the dedicated website, by clicking here. Also, the free map can be found here.

Hope you will enjoy the walk! I for sure will!

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