DURHAM’S LUMIERE

DURHAM’S LUMIERE

It’s the week of light art: The other night, the celebrated light artist James Turrell was honored at Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) art and film gala and today, the annual light festival Lumiere Durham premieres its 2015 edition in Durham, UK.

Commissioned by Durham County Council, the first Lumiere took place in 2009. Originally planned as a one-off, it has since grown into the UK’s largest light festival. Returning to the North East of England every other year, in 2013 it was attended by a record 175,000 people over four days. Producers Artichoke also brought Lumiere to Derry~Londonderry as part of the UK City of Culture celebrations later that November.

Artichoke are passionate about the possibilities of light and how it can transform urban environments. At Lumiere Durham 2013, 27 installations stretched across the city including a huge trumpeting 3D elephant, illuminated stick men who ‘took over’ the old Durham Miners Hall, and a giant sun. From neons and video mapped projections to LEDs, there were extraordinary things waiting to be discovered in unexpected locations.

With a new program of work by international artists and a conference with impressive speakers all ready to share their vision for how light can change the world, Lumiere Durham 2015 promises to once more illuminate the wintry darkness in spectacular fashion.