The launch of the highly anticipated Lightwaves 2015 didn’t fail to impress on Friday 11 December when a crowd of families, art lovers, VIP guests and workers saw the world class digital art installations light up Salford’s iconic waterfront for the first time.
On the night, visitors were also treated to performances by Manchester-based dance company, Company Chameleon. Anthony Missen, Co-Artistic Director at Company Chameleon said: “It was a real honour and an unforgettable experience to perform tonight at the launch of the festival.
“There’s a lot of people out there who might not think going into a gallery or theatre space is for them, and that’s what’s so special about public artwork. It’s been a joy to bring this installation to life and to contribute towards making art accessible for people who wouldn’t normally enjoy it.”
With works from Danish-American artist Mads Christensen, Iceland-based artist Marcos Zotes and Australian artist Amanda Parer, there is now an opportunity to see some of the world’s best digital light sculptures for free from Saturday 12 December to Sunday 27 December.
Lucy Dusgate, programme producer at Quays Culture, comments: “It was fantastic to have so many people from across the North West join us for the launch of LIGHTWAVES 2015; even better was to see their reactions to this awe-inspiring digital light art.
“The Quays is the perfect destination to host this event, being central to Greater Manchester’s thriving cultural scene. Over half a million people saw the free light artworks last year. This year there has already been lots of interest and we expect to host thousands of visitors over the festive season.”
Commissioned by Quays Culture and never seen before, this year’s star attraction is Mads Christensen’s Cathedral of Mirrors, a dazzling interactive artwork that lights up in response to the movement of crowds, situated in the Lowry Plaza.
Over the footbridge in MediaCityUK is the internationally-acclaimed AMAZE installation, by Marcos Zotes. A psychedelic maze of light and shadows, it comes to life when visitors enter its narrow pathways and discover the magic within.
The third installation at this year’s festival can be found on the waterfront itself, where five giant inflatable rabbits make their latest stop on a world tour which has included London, Gothenburg, Paris and Boston.
Lit from within and two storeys high, Amanda Parer’s installation cleverly embraces both the light, fun-filled side of the rabbits, and delivers an important message about the impact of humans on the environment.
Visitors are invited to join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #Lightwaves 2015, a way to keep up to date with the latest news and share their experiences with the wider community.
