Bright Lights, Big City – 07.12.17

Winter Lights set to leave January evenings aglow at Canary Wharf as free event returns for fourth year

Light graffiti, interactive light bubbles and flora light drawings will leave the winter evenings aglow at Canary Wharf as its annual, award winning Winter Lights festival returns on 16^th January 2018 for a fourth consecutive year. The spectacle will showcase over 30 works from some of the most innovative artists across the globe working in light art today.

Now a firm fixture on the London arts scene and free to the public, the 2018 incarnation will once again draw upon state-of-the-art light technology to deliver spectacular artworks, installations and experiences to Canary Wharf, many of them interactive or responsive. The exhibition features never-before-seen pieces and several UK firsts. New commissions this year include ‘Dazzling Dodecahedron’ by UK artist Amberlights, a beautiful 3D installation that people can enter and enjoy the total rainbow spectrum of colour.

Additional new works include ‘Halo’ by Dutch artists Venividimultiplex. The artists have created a giant halo which will be suspended above the fountain in Cabot Square. The ‘Halo’ is the artists’ representation of the sun, our greatest source of light which shapes the conditions for life on our plant and emphasises the sacred being and bringing people together.

Keith Watson, Curator of Winter Lights, Canary Wharf Group, comments: “Since its inception the Winter Lights festival has really gathered pace and each year we strive to uncover new and exciting works to dazzle our visitors. The exhibition remains London’s only annual Light Art exhibition and after winning Best Creative Lighting Event at the Darc Awards 2017, we’re proud to be bringing more commissions and never-before-seen pieces to the UK. The calibre of artists this year is once again outstanding and features some of the best minds and creators in the field. Interaction and immersion are again key features of this year’s exhibition and are what differentiates us from other festivals of this kind. For us, it’s important that the pieces aren’t just spectacles to be admired from afar, but works of light art which people can engage with and experience. Whether you’re coming alone, with friends or family, the festival promises to be an enriching experience and the perfect way to spend a winter’s evening.”

Mark Evers, Chief Customer Officer, at Transport for London said: “We’re delighted to support this event by hosting Sonic Light Bubble. Canary Wharf is one of the capital’s busiest stations and with the launch of the Elizabeth Line in December 2018 the area will become even more accessible to people across London. We hope everyone young and old take advantage of this year’s exhibition, whether you stop by on your way home from work or visit with family and friends at the weekend.”

Additional standout works include ‘Apparatus Florius’ from Belgian artist Tom Dekyvere. His piece will be transforming Westferry Circus with a work that stands for togetherness, happiness and joyfulness but also for danger, friction and tension. The artwork aims to illustrate the togetherness and collaboration in contrast with nature and technology

Meanwhile, returning for a second year is Marcus Lyall’s popular ‘On Your Wavelength’. Originally commissioned by Canary Wharf Group in 2017, the piece features a mind-powered light and sound installation of over 20,000 LEDs which are controlled by a participant via an EEG headset. As their thought patterns change the light tunnel fitted with the LEDs will create intricate light patterns.

As well as outdoor pieces, a series of specially curated indoor section of works will feature throughout Crossrail Place and Crossrail Place Roof Garden. These include ‘Reflecting Holons’ by Dutch artists Martens & Visser which explore the ephemeral magic of light and movement using moving objects creating the illusion that they are water drops.

The Winter Lights festival is free to the public and can be seen throughout Canary Wharf from 16^th to 27^th January. The illuminations can be discovered in an array of different locations, simply pick up a map when you arrive or download one from the website in advance. The full list of the installations is below.

For full details visit www.canarywharf.com

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Press Office
Canary Wharf Group plc
T: 020 7418 2166
E: pressoffice@canarywharf.com