5 Amazing London Lighting Installations To Blow Your Mind
Walking the streets of London at night can be full of surprises. The city never sleeps, so whether you want to buy shoes at 10 o’clock at night or simply roam the streets for Pokémon, you can be guaranteed to stumble upon something you weren’t expecting.
In 2015, the world announced it was the International Year of Light, and light-based technologies and events were planned to celebrate it. This celebration spilt out into 2016 and London enjoyed an array of different lighting installations that ranged from fish tanks to tsunami-sized data visualisations. Below are five of my favourite lighting projects to hit the big smoke over the years.
1.8 by Janet Echelman
Back in January, American artist Janet Echelman suspended a billowing woven sculpture based on the data visualisation from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The lighting structure was suspended above London’s busy Oxford Circus junction and lit up at night. The display’s colours were determined by the mobile phones of willing participants.
The Phone Booth Aquariums by Benedetto Bufalino and Benoit Deseille
Londoners have a special place in their hearts for the classic red telephones boxes, so when one of these aging monuments of the pre-mobile world was turned into a beautifully lit living fish tank in Mayfair, it made all who saw it smile. These playful transformations by French artist Benedetto Bufalino and lighting designer Benoit Deseille have been popping up since 2007 and appeared in many of the major cities across the world.
The Plastic Islands of Trafalgar Square by Luzinterruptus
Inspired by the Great Pacific garbage patch, Luzinterruptus took over the iconic Trafalgar Square fountain to deliver an important message of environmental awareness. This beautifully-lit installation was created from 13,000 bottles gathered from around London, floating in the central ring around the fountain.
The Circus of Light by Ocubo
Ocubo are a Portuguese company specialising in 3D animation, illustration, motion design and video mapping. City dwellers were invited into their virtual big top for an awe-inspiring show, projected onto the side of the Granary Building. The show included acrobats, jugglers, dancers and performers which were all set to music within Granary Square.
The Atrium Light By Cundall
Manufactured and installed by The Light Lab, this stunning atrium light feature at the commercial offices of Broadgate Quarter weighs in at over 750kg and uses over a kilometre of cable. At 45 metres long, it brings the entire lobby to life with its array of vibrant colours.
Image courtesy of The Light Lab
The Garden of Light by Tilt
This exotic garden of huge illuminated plants supported by the Mayor of London was a sight to behold. Tunnels for red trees, towering green spikes and suspended spikes of light made for both a breath-taking and almost foreboding experience.
As the nights begin to close in, London is more than happy to light up and make you smile. With more new and interesting neon artworks appearing every week, it pays to avoid the underground and simply enjoy the streets.
