If you think that the world can seem a little drab after the festive decorations of Christmas have been taken down for another year, you’re not alone, but this year will see London enjoy a collection of magical light-based installations as part of Lumiere London.
Produced by Artichoke in cities across the United Kingdom since 2006, the event will bring 30 exhibits to the streets of the Capital to help chase away any post-Christmastime blues. Artichoke has previously taken Lumiere to Liverpool, Durham, and other large British cities, but this will be the first time the event comes to London, and you’ll be able to check it out for four days straight from Thursday January 14th.
With installations seen all across the city, the best way to get around the festival is by public transportation. Here are just a few of what promise to be the event’s standout pieces.
- Garden of Light: Created by intriguing French collective TILT, these luminous structures feel as if they were taken from the world of dreams. A magical collection of flowers and trees made from pure light will rise from the streets of London, with a myriad of multi-coloured leaves extending from each branch.
- Les Voyageurs (The Travellers): Cédric Le Borgne’s ephemeral figures float ghost-like above the crowds that turn out to see them. Les Voyageurs has been shown in cities as diverse and far-flung as Toulouse, Derry, London, Durham, Geneva, and Seoul, and they promise to be one of Lumiere London’s most phenomenal highlights.
- Spectra-3: Another powerful and immersive installation developed by UK-based LuxFIELD.io, this intricate moving light structure provides a full sensory experience.
If you’re interested in the thoughts and feelings that inspired the festival and its installations, head to Bloomberg London Headquarters City Gate House in Finsbury Square on Friday January 15th from 2pm – 4.30pm for The Heart and Soul of the City free event. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the talk will let artists delve into the way their projects were created, how they are helping to transform communities, and the ways in which their artwork interacts with the life of the city.
For a full map of all 30 Lumiere London exhibits, just head to the official Lumiere London website for a free download. It could be just the thing to cheer you up once the thrills of the Christmas season have come to an end.