Lumiere was back across London last weekend with over 50 installations spread across north and south of the city. It feels like a long time since the last one but it was only 2016.

It certainly got the crowds into London from the 17th to 21st January despite the cold & rain. The lights of the art installations gets switched on at 5.30 until 10.30pm. Artists from around the world have created these works of art to wow people and to get rid of those winter blues.

Its one of the biggest art events in the UK and is now in more locations across the capital than 2016.

On the opening night I tried to get to as many of them as possible. I started off at Kings Cross, which is a part of London that has had lots of regeneration, over the last 5 years. It has changed a lot for the better. Then I ventured to Goodge Street, where a few more installations can be found. Eventually down to the West End and across to the Southbank. I managed to get to 15 on the first day. On the Saturday and Sunday I will do most of the rest, well that was the plan but the weather put an end to this.

Below are some of the pictures I took on the first night with more on my Flickr.  Check out the links below and leave a comment on the best ones you saw. Lumiere was split into zones, Kings Cross, West End, South bank, Victoria, Mayfair, Westminster.

About Lumiere

Lumiere London is free and it is run by the charity Artichoke, this is the 2nd time they have run it. They have a useful brochure which helps the charity to fund the amazing art.

Kings Cross

Always the first place to visit here is the information centre which had a 3D model of the area. Lots of maps were given out and the staff had all the latest info. There are 11 installations here.

IFO (Identified Flying Object) by Jacques Rival

This a permanent feature near Kings Cross station a giant birdcage, Jacques Rival is a French artist and architect who uses different design tools to create surprising urban installations. The purpose of his work is to encourage the public to explore unknown areas and enrich everyday life by adding a hint of the unexpected.

DOT by Philippe Morvan

Called the dots by French artist Morvan a bank of 175 light bulbs pulsate to music especially written by Solomon Grey for Lumiere. An ever-changing panorama of horizontal and vertical lines, spheres and cubes.

Tilt by Lampounette 

Pays homage to the iconic desk lamp by French artistic company who produce a lot of these installations around the world.

Waterlicht by Daan Roosegaarde 

Inspired by our changing relationship to water, the risk we all face if immediate action is not taken to tackle global warming and rising sea levels, Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde transforms Granary Square into an ethereal dream-like landscape.

Aether by Architecture Social Club

Laser lights scatter light against metal rods, glittering mass grows, rolls and splinters in reaction to the soundscape created by music producer Max Cooper from the Architecture Social Club. They specialise in bespoke art collaboration projects around the world.

Fitzrovia

Droplets by Ulf Pedersen

12 animated droplet each toned to a different note, play cross the square. Originally commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the MAC in Birmingham, this subtle installation has a mostly random pattern of sounds, with the occasional melodic element coming into play. UK based artist Pedersen produces work across the world he transforms the act of looking into a physical experience and is carefully placed to respond to the raw materials of his chosen site.

CONTROL NO CONTROL by Daniel Iregui

A cube in Whitfield Gardens where you can touch and the LEDs will react. It uses five different states of sound and visual form, each exploring a different geometry and pattern. Produced by an Interactive design company Iregui based in Canada, founded by Daniel Iregui. They create artistic interactive pieces of art around the world.

West End

Nightlife by Lantern Company with Jo Pocock

Leicester square is brought to life with a secret garden which plays on the relationship between wild spaces and urban city life. UK artist Jo Pocock designed the lanterns with the Lantern company making them. Catch them at Thornton Heath light festival, supported by London Borough of Croydon after Lumiere.

Southbank

There are 10 installations here spread around, I only got to the Wave.

The Wave by Vertigo
40 triangles / gates make up a the wave near the National theatre. Mesmerising interactive place where the faster you walk through the gates the bigger the change in light and sound. Built by a Danish company originally done for a festival.

The Verdict

My initial impressions were that they were bigger and more spectacular in 2016. This could be down to how amazing it was back then, having it in London for the first time. I don’t think the building projections worked too well. Mainly because it needs to be much darker, the buildings are brightly lit anyway. I always love planning the journey and the mobile app was brilliant. Well done to Visit London for building the app.

Thanks for reading, check out the further images on the links below, leave a comment below on what you thought about London Lumiere.

Links

Flickr – httpss://www.flickr.com/photos/alalchan/albums/72157661234693613
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/alalchan
London Lumiere – httpss://www.visitlondon.com/lumiere/index