Four exciting new light installations that will wash the streets with colour and light up the dark nights in the most fun and playful ways have been revealed for this year’s Bristol Light Festival.
Image: End over End by Studio Vertigo. Credit: Topher McGrillis.
From 1-6 March, Bristol Light Festival will showcase an impressive selection of renowned light artists and world-class light installations, including the very best of Bristol’s artistic talent, all making their first appearance in the city. The 2022 event will build on the popularity and success of its 2020 edition, taking over the city’s streets, landmarks and a few unexpected places. A further four captivating light installations that will debut at this year’s event have been revealed, each bringing its own vibrancy and delight to the city.
Bristol Light Festival is presented by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) working in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID, Arts Council England, Bristol City Council and Cabot Circus, and curated by the festival’s creative director Katherine Jewkes.
Neighbours returns to reflect on what life was like in lockdown
One of 2020’s most popular installations, ‘Neighbours’, is making an exciting return and this year it will tell a new tale. For 2022, the collaborative installation by four Bristol-based graffiti artists and illustrators will create artworks that will surround the window of Banksy’s famous Well Hung Lover on Park Street and offer a peek into the lives of those living next door.
‘Neighbours’ will be a celebration of Bristol’s residents and how we interact with each other as a diverse community, whilst exploring the unique relationship we all have had with our homes over the pandemic.
Playtime at College Green
A playful new commission that will bring out the inner child in everyone will feature at College Green and is sure to be a big hit with families and friends visiting the festival.
Bristol-based company, Tired Industries will create a collection of light up musical swings allowing visitors to swing alongside one another in a fun and interactive way. Music and light will be triggered by the swinging motion and play in sync with one another, featuring music that celebrates Bristol’s rich history. The piece is powered by cutting edge technology and will be a joyful way to play in the city. ‘Swing Song’ is an addition to this year’s programme following a successful grant from the Arts Council England, the piece is one of the daytime commissions which is also powered by movement.
This year’s festival will be supported by Bristol’s City Centre & High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme, which is funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England’s Combined Authority’s Love our High Streets project, with the aim of supporting the recovery of Bristol’s priority high streets.
A giant retro rainbow slinks into town
Renowned light artists, Studio Vertigo will bring their colourful and fun installation to the harbour side, and it is sure to capture the imagination of those that see it. ‘End Over End’ is a gigantic illuminated slinky toy that lights up to create the familiar flowing movement of the nostalgic toy. It’s size and scale will make visitors feel like they’ve entered a playroom in the land of giants as they watch each coil ‘slink’ down Cascade Steps and heads towards the harbour’s water.
Lucy McDonnell and Stephen Newby, Studio Vertigo’s co-founders, design light installations that transform the daily environment, and their creations have featured at countless events and festivals across the UK and internationally.
Offices come to life after dark
International light artist Parker Heyl will bring his playful installation ‘Office Party’ to Bristol for the first time, taking over the Vertigo building in the Redcliffe & Temple area.
‘Office Party’ comes from the playful idea that our workspaces may come to life in our absence, using sequenced light choreography to make the while building dance after the workers have gone home.
Owners of the Vertigo building, Workforce Development Trust, and one of its resident businesses Boccard, will be providing their office windows for the installation that can be seen on Cheese Lane Shot Tower.
Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID, said; “We are really looking forward to this year’s event, and how it will spark fun and joy into the city centre and showcase Bristol as the special city that we know and love. The 2022 programme boasts all new installations giving the event a real element of surprise and discovery, and we want to welcome visitors to enjoy themselves and maybe visit a part of Bristol they’ve never been to before.”
Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Finance, Governance, Property and Culture, from Bristol City Council said; “We are pleased to be able to help fund and be involved with Bristol Light Festival and look forward to seeing the light installations come to life in the city centre. There is a real synergy between Bristol’s City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme and Bristol Light Festival – we both are committed to the recovery of Bristol after a very difficult two years and hope this event helps us on that journey.”
For more information and updates about the event please visit www.bristollightfestival.org and follow us on Instagram @Bristol_Light_Fest, Twitter @Bristol_Light and Facebook and using the hashtag #Bristollightfestival
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