LIGHTWAVES SALFORD RETURNS WITH SPECTACULAR FREE LIGHT ART FESTIVAL
Lightwaves Salford - presented by Quays Culture - returns for the 11th year this December with a trail of 14 spectacular art installations that will inspire visitors to explore Salford Quays and MediaCity by night. FREE to attend, the popular light art festival runs from Thursday 5 December to Sunday 8 December 2023, 4pm-10pm. No booking required, just turn up and enjoy!
Staged around outdoor locations across Salford Quays and MediaCity, Lightwaves Salford invites families and friends of all ages to get together and explore captivating light installations that transform the waterside environment after dark. This year’s event will feature 14 artworks, five of which are brand new commissions and are hosting their world premieres in Salford. Visitors can expect a variety of different works using light, sound and technology to create an unforgettable experience.
Kate Doyle, Head of Programme for Quays Culture shared her excitement about this year’s line-up:
“The team at Quays Culture are truly excited by the programme of artworks curated for what will be the 11th edition of Lightwaves Salford. Year on year the event delights audiences of all ages and we're certain that 2024 will be no exception. The programme is one of our best yet and we’re looking forward to seeing visitors' reactions to our thought-provoking new commissions.
In the dark winter months, human beings are instinctively drawn to light and the chance to gather together with other people. All are welcome to Lightwaves Salford to experience the joy of light art!”
The full programme will include:
Monad by Anastasia Isachsen is a giant projection based artwork that will be seen across the water from MediaCity. At 30m wide, this huge artwork incorporates video projection using a mist of water as a screen and is accompanied by a deeply emotional musical composition by the renowned jazz composer Arve Henriksen. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular experience of Monad for an extended run until 22 December thanks to the support of MediaCity.
SomniUs by illumaphonium is a huge interactive light and sound installation constructed using over 6km of LED lights suspended 3m above the audience. As people move, the sound and lights respond and patterns change and grow - becoming more dramatic with every person that joins in. SomniUs is a new commission by Light up the North network.
SYSTEM LIGHTWAVES PSB is an exciting new commission that invites you into a world of lights, screens, sounds, and the chaotic world of bike riders in the urban environment. This artwork is by multi-disciplinary artist Gaika in collaboration with Belinda Everett - Manchester’s Bicycle Mayor - and is rooted in the culture of cycling for survival.
The Matter of The Heart is the brand new artwork by award-winning art studio idontloveyouanymore. This joyful interactive artwork will incorporate heartbeat data from real people in real time - becoming an expression of the collective power of community. Audiences are invited to walk among the 100 flashing hearts which represent people with a connection to Manchester and Salford and their real-time heart beats.
Stellar Waves is a visionary kinetic light sculpture, specially crafted for Lightwaves 2024 by Manchester-based Lazerian, the creative design studio of artist Liam Hopkins. This kinetic sculptural installation draws inspiration from the vast and enigmatic realms of space exploration and the striking visual language of 1980s graphics.
Step into a glitching Martian landscape and leave your own footprints on Mars’ alien and politically contested landscape. RED FIELD is a brand new immersive and interactive art installation, presented at University of Salford MediaCity. Created by artist collaboration Nye Thompson x Krisstoffer Dunk.
Entwined is an interactive light installation that celebrates the community spirit of Salford. Located in MediaCity Gardens this brand new piece combines voices, sound, light, sculpture, and painting to create a multisensory experience. Entwined is a Quays Culture commission debuting at Lightwaves Salford 2024.
A Cry For Help by Ben Everard is an interactive, thought-provoking artwork about helping the insect world. A collection of glittering insect sculptures slowly go dark when there’s no one there and brighten up when people move close again. A joint commission between Quays Culture and RHS Glow.
For peace! is a 125 m long artwork depicting a series of moving figures who go from walking to running, presented waterside along the quays - a personal expression of freedom and peace by Slovakian light artist sedemminut.
I caught a... is a playful artwork by French artist Stéphane Masson. As night falls, you will discover a changing series of curiosities exhibited in a cage erected in the street to enchant passers-by. A goldfish, an elephant or even a solitary cloud - who knows what you’ll see?
On the Wave of Light is an interactive installation that celebrates the vibration of light. Created by Those Guys Lighting from Latvia, and consisting of 100 interactive light poles, this playful artwork will respond to the interaction of visitors and is sure to be a favourite with younger visitors.
A calmer atmosphere is evoked by REFLECT by Emma Gasson which encourages people to ‘drift’ and relax as they interact with the surface of water, generating ripples and reflections for personal contemplation and an escape from busy productivity.
Through No 4 by Liz West - originally commissioned by Quays Culture in 2021 - is a well loved landmark on MediaCity. This year at Lightwaves Salford the piece will be creatively lit to add even more magic, and allow it to shine like a jewel on the waterside.
Finally, The Light Within has been commissioned by Quays Culture,designed and produced by students at the Academy of Live Technology. Premiered at Lightwaves Salford, the artwork explores the impact that light has on our wellbeing in a playful and interactive way - harnessing the students’ skill in cutting edge creative technology.
Monad - extended run to 22nd December thanks to MediaCity
As one of the highlights of this year’s Lightwaves Monad will be extended to 22nd December thanks to the generous support of MediaCity. Caroline Aikman, Director of Marketing, Brand and Place commented:
“Lightwaves is a highlight of the winter season at MediaCity and for the first time this year we’re delighted to support the extended run of the show-stopping Monad art installation on the waterfront. It promises to create a sense of magic in the run up to Christmas and will inspire creatives from the region and beyond.”
No tickets are required to attend Lightwaves Salford, visitors can simply turn up and explore the trail of artworks at their own leisure. Maps of the trail will be available online in advance and on the night, though visitors are welcome to use any route they like to explore Lightwaves Salford.
There will be plenty of food and drink options with all the usual restaurants at MediaCity as well as the diverse range of traders at Kargo within the Quayside. The popular Makers Market will also be running over the 6th-8th December to coincide with Lightwaves Salford.
Lightwaves Salford is part of Light up the North, a network of northern light festivals which have come together to share their collective expertise.
Lightwaves Salford is funded by the Arts Council England through a grant to Salford City Council as part of the National Lottery Project Grants programme.
Quays Culture is gratefully funded by Greater Manchester Combined Authority through their Culture Fund programme.