Liverpool is preparing to turn into an epic night-time playground as River of Light returns to the city’s streets and iconic waterfront.
Running from Friday 25th October to Tuesday 5th November, visitors can enjoy twelve spectacular light installations along a 3km waterfront trail, and for the first time, Royal Albert Dock will be home to three artworks.
With the theme for this year being ‘Play’, trail-goers can expect to enjoy the below installations:
- Illusion Hole – Royal Albert Dock: Inspired by the dynamic movement of light, UxU Studio from Taiwan, has created the illusion of water flowing into a mysterious black hole. The thought-provoking installation challenges our understanding of reality, exploring the boundaries between truth and illusion.
- Positive Spin – Royal Albert Dock: A 5.5m high machine from the collective minds of illustrator Liz Harry and artistic experience creators Invisible Wind Factory – visitors are invited to step up and receive a random fortune. Inspired by a love of summers spent at beach front arcades it’s part immersive experience and part spectacle.
- Lightbattle III – Royal Albert Dock: This exciting, immersive piece celebrates the joy of cycling as participants can hop-on and pedal as fast as they can in a race to intensify the colours around them. It is the brainchild of Dutch creatives VENIVIDMULTIPLEX.
- Firefly Field – Liverpool Parish Church: This mesmerising installation simulates the movements of fireflies. Created by Netherlands-based Studio Toer, this unpredictable piece has a soundtrack inspired by the natural habitat.
- Bunch of Tulips – Liverpool ONE: Hungarian artists, Koros Design Studio literally inflates this iconic flower into epic proportions with an oversized bouquet of tulips.
- Bubblesque – Mann Island Basin: Australian artists Atelier Sisu return to River of Light with giant bubbles floating on water and overflowing onto the land. When the land bubbles are touched, they dance with colour accompanied by a joyful and ambient soundscape.
- No Place Like Gnome – Derby Square: No Place Like Gnome invites visitors on a whimsical journey, where each gnome transforms into a charming companion for a photographic exploration of iconic landmarks and hidden treasures. Artists Amigo & Amigo are embracing the essence of global travel with this piece.
- Checkmate – Exchange Flags: Based on the popular board game chess, this 16m-by-16m square chessboard by Amigo & Amigo has been designed to make visitors feel as though they have shrunk amongst the enormous inflatable chess pieces.
- Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos – Mann Island Atrium: Created by British-Sri Lankan artist MURUGIAH, this 3D sculpture stands at nearly two-metres high and is a celebration of Diwali’s Festival of Light featuring bright patterns, traditionally painted in the entrance of homes to welcome the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi. It signifies luck, positivity and happiness.
- Piano Walk – Pier Head: With 40 interactive keys and piano hammers, visitors are encouraged to jump on and compose a unique, collaborative music score! It has been designed by critically acclaimed Australian artists Amigo & Amigo, working with local composer John McHugh.
- Impulse – Peir Head – 15 interactive see-saws will transform the Pier Head through light and sound, providing a playground to delight all ages thanks to French-Canadian artists Lateral Office & CS Design – a production of Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and distributed by QDSinternational
- LAPS – The Strand by Salthouse Dock– Coined as an “hourglass from another time” Laps is the brainchild of Quebec artist Oliver Landreville, who has created a giant egg timer which will take over part of The Strand near Salthouse Dock. Visitors will be encouraged to take control of time by turning a steering wheel.
Each night the artworks will be switched on from 5pm to 9pm, with a number of special quiet hour sessions to ensure the event is even more accessible to visitors with additional needs.
To mark Diwali, the Festival of Light, on Friday 1 November, Culture Liverpool is working with Liverpool-based Indian arts and culture organisation, Milap to programme activity which will take place near the Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos installation.