Lighting up London

Lumiere London, Lumiere Durham — Garden of Light, part of Lumiere Durham 2015 Credit: Matthew Andrews

Spectacular light show Lumiere London is set to chase away the January blues and show some of city’s most familiar spots in a whole new light.

Artist impression. This dynamic, technicolour artwork will be projected onto BAFTA 195 Piccadilly — Artist impression of a dynamic, technicolour artwork to be projected onto BAFTA 195 Piccadilly

The city’s first Lumiere light festival will transform the streets and buildings for four evenings this month in a bid to re-imagine the urban landscape, encouraging visitors to discover parts of the capital for the first time and see familiar sights in a new light.

Lumiere London, Lumiere Derry — Neon Dogs by Deepa Mann-Kler, part of Lumiere Derry 2013 Credit: Chris Hill Photographic

The free festival, from January 14-17, features 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.

At Westminster Abbey, French digital artist Patrice Warrener will “paint” the abbey’s West Gate in an electric riot of colour 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.

Westminster, lumiere London — Artist impression of The Light of the Spirit at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey

In Piccadilly, the Lumineoles light sculptures will dance with the elements while, on the facade of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, leading stars and directors of British screen and TV will appear as part of 195 Piccadilly. A dynamic, technicolour artwork, 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.

Artist impression of the Circus of Light, a magical animation across the breadth of the Granary Building at King’s Cross

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.

There are easy walking routes between many of the 30 exhibits and plenty of opportunities to grab drink or a meal at the many venues and attractions along the way.

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