12 weird and wonderful sights you can see as Lumiere 2019 opens in Durham
Tonight’s the night the Lumiere spectacular returns to Durham City for its 10th anniversary show, running from November 14-17.
By Katy Wheeler
Published 14th Nov 2019, 10:36 BST
Updated 15th Nov 2019, 10:51 BST
We went along for a preview last night and have rounded up some of the weird and wonderful spectacles you can expect to see at this year’s festival, which features some old favourites as well as new commissions.
There are 37 artworks in total, spread across the city and although tickets have all gone for the central area, 26 of the artworks are outside of the ticketed zone.
For more on 10 special years of Lumiere read our report here.
For more on 10 special years of Lumiere read our report here.
9. I Love Durham, Market Place
Another shot of the giant snowglobe in Market Place, which is set to be a favourite at this year's festival. Photo: Kevin Brady
10. Fogscape, riverside, by Fujiko Nakaya & Simon Corder
A rolling nocturnal fog cascades into the River Wear. Fujiko Nakaya has been transforming public spaces around the world for over half a century with her ephemeral fog sculptures. An original commission for Lumiere 2015, Fogscape #03238 returns to cloak the riverside in plumes of ghostly water vapour. By bringing the clouds down to the ground, the artist hopes that people will be reminded of their own role in climate change. Fujiko Nakaya produced the world’s first fog sculpture in Osaka, Japan in 1970, by shrouding the roof of the Pepsi pavilion with artificially-produced fog. Since then she has created more than 90 of these immersive installations in cities and national parks across the world. Photo: Kevin Brady
An homage to one of our most iconic British birds. Its huge wings unfold for a fleeting moment – a snapshot in time. Heron shines in soft luminescence, as if captured in a camera flash. The sculpture celebrates the beauty of nature in the heart of the city. Heron was the third permanent piece added to the Durham landscape following Lumiere. The original installation was first shown at Lumiere 2017 and is now a permanent artwork in Durham. Photo: Artichoke
Light and music energise the architecture of Durham Cathedral. Shape-shifting video-mapped projections animate the Cathedral, highlighting the significance of the building as both an iconic historical structure and a modern symbol for the city. A composed generative soundtrack constantly changes and evolves, raising through a crescendo that moves in symphony with the spirituality of the Cathedral. You’re invited to manipulate the installation by interacting with one of two stone controllers. Please note, given the large crowds at the Cathedral, only a limited number of randomly allocated interactivity slots will be available. Photo: Owen Humphreys