12 weird and wonderful sights you can see as Lumiere 2019 opens in Durham
Tonight’s the night the Lumiere spectacular returns to Durham City for its 10th anniversary show, running from November 14-17.
By Katy Wheeler
Published 14th Nov 2019, 10:36 BST
Updated 15th Nov 2019, 10:51 BST
We went along for a preview last night and have rounded up some of the weird and wonderful spectacles you can expect to see at this year’s festival, which features some old favourites as well as new commissions.
There are 37 artworks in total, spread across the city and although tickets have all gone for the central area, 26 of the artworks are outside of the ticketed zone.
For more on 10 special years of Lumiere read our report here.
For more on 10 special years of Lumiere read our report here.
5. Keys of Light, Rushford Court, by Mr.Beam
Pianists of all ages perform their favourite songs, from Mozart to Michael Bublé, as part of this spectacular interactive installation. Triggered by sound, the installation is co-created by local people who were selected through an open call earlier in the year. The first person to perform was none other than Sir Tim Rice. Photo: Kevin Brady
6. Cloud, Prince Bishops, by Caitland R.C Brown and Wayne Garrett
Illuminate a sculpture formed from 6,000 incandescent light bulbs. Celebrating the power of collective action, this simple, bright and playful artwork returns to Lumiere. Pull the chain switches to light up the surface of the CLOUD. Celebrating the power of collective action, this simple, bright and playful artwork returns to Lumiere to shine a light on an everyday object. As the incandescent light bulb is phased out in the EU and around the world, CLOUD reminds us of the moment we switch from one mode of technology to the next and asks us to imagine what might come next. Pull the chain switches to light up the surface of CLOUD. Photo: Kevin Brady
7. The Stars Come Out at Night, Walkergate, by Stellar Projects
A revolving universe of twinkling stars. Capturing the beauty and wonder of the night sky, The Stars Come Out at Night brings the sparkle of starlight down to earth. The installation gently rotates casting a universe of stars across the ground, just like the night-time projectors that soothed many of us to sleep as children. The piece is accompanied by an original soundtrack by Oliver Vibrans. Photo: Kevin Brady
8. Geometrical Traces, near Prebends Bridge, by Javier Riera
Durham’s riverside foliage illuminated in geometrical light. The connection between geometry and nature inspired this mesmerising new artwork. The projection illuminates the trees on the banks of the River Wear with computer-generated patterns, created using the Fibonacci Sequence and other mathematical patterns found in the natural world. Javier Riera views geometry as a language capable of describing the veiled rhythm of nature. This artwork aims to create a deeper connection between the audience and the natural environment, highlighting hidden locations and drawing attention to the many layers that make up our world. Look out over the Wear and feel the energy of Durham’s landscape by night. Photo: Kevin Brady