Lightwaves returns to MediaCity and Salford Quays today for the 10th year with a free “ambitious” light art festival to celebrate a decade of light.
From Thursday December 7-10, Quays Culture will be celebrating their 10th Lightwaves with a trail of 15 illuminated works from established as well as emerging artists, both local, national and international.
This years showcase will bring a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful.
Lightwaves Salford is part of the Quays Culture Programme, a partnership initiative with a mission to animate public spaces for the public to experience free-of-charge, bringing extraordinary art into the heart of the community.
Kate Doyle, Head of Programme at Quays Culture, describes the festival’s 10th year as “quite a feat” for the development team, and hopes the local community can continue to experience “epic” art installations at Salford Quays and MediaCity.
“There’s something for everyone really, as there always is at Lightwaves,” she said.
“But I think this year, because it’s our 10th, we decided to go really ambitious [and] really big.”
Among the 15 dramatic art installations of the 2023 programme are ‘CETUS’, a spectacular lifelike underwater artwork of a 6 meter long whale shark, an immersive display of nature called ‘Nectary’ with six huge glowing flowers handcrafted from recycled materials, and ‘GLOW’, a giant interactive light installation with over 40 different music sounds and animations.
Quays Culture will also offer free guided tours, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the inspiration behind the artworks. BSL (British Sign Language) and Mandarin-speaking tours will also be accommodated on the programme.
Ms Doyle added: “It gives everyone a chance to get together to do something outdoors in the fresh air that’s fun whilst it’s dark and a bit gloomy, and it’s all for free.”
Another art installation bringing warmth into the cold winter nights is ‘PULSE’, a sequence of 12 large reflective rings that will light up MediaCity’s with a structural depiction of light, sound and space.
Harriet Lumby, co-creator of ‘Pulse’, said: ” It’s a journey of exploration. [It’s about] how we go around the sun and the way light moves and creates our understanding of the construct of time, which essentially is all about light.”
The Somerset-based artist at Loop art studio expressed her excitement for the upcoming light festival, and looks forward to the public having the chance to interact with her blend of chaotic and ambient, calm audio-visuals.
“We’ve been watching Lightwaves for years, always wanting to come,” she added.
“It was really a no brainer when we were asked to come. We have no boundary of access for people to come here and see it. I think that’s so important for art in the public realm.”
Lightwaves at MediaCity and Salford Quays will be open from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th December from 4pm-10pm each evening.
The illuminations are a part of Light up the North, “a network of northern light festivals which have come together to share their collective expertise.”
Lightwaves is free to enter and no booking is required.
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