The eagerly-awaited Lumiere festival will get under way in Derry tonight.
“Twice Upon a TIme” on the clock tower building at Ebrington Square.
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to travel to the city for the event which will see local and international artists, community groups and lighting designers illuminate the city’s walls, buildings and streets over the next four days – running from 5.30pm to 10.00pm each night.
Produced by leading arts company Artichoke, the event attracted over 175,000 visitors when held in Durham in England earlier this month.
The major outdoor festival features 17 spectacular light sculptures and installations at outdoor spaces, buildings, landmarks and walkways from the Bogside to the Fountain and beyond.
Culture and Arts Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the festival would been seen as “a beacon” for all those who have not yet made the journey to Derry.
She added: “It promises to be a visual feast and I hope may open some eyes and shine a light on this wonderful city, its vibrancy and enthusiasm.”
Artistic director Helen Marriage said Lumiere was “about the unexpected.”
“Buildings will change their shape and appearance; human forms will seem to fly through the air, parks and empty public spaces will become places where strange and delightful things happen.”
Highlights include:
:: Digital mapping studio Novak transforming Austins Department Store with a 3D projection inspired by the tales of Jules Verne.
:: “A teenage dream’s so hard to beat,” a lyric by The Undertones, featuring on the BT building at Queens Quay.
:: Tim Etchells showcasing a 23-metre long neon feature on the Rosemount shirt factory.
:: Illuminated sculptures in human form, created by French sculptor Cédric Le Borgne, flying around the Peace Bridge.
:: Twice Upon a Time: 120 local primary school children worked together to design a spectacular new look for the clocktower building at Ebrington.
:: Fire Garden (Thursday – Saturday only, 6.30pm – 9.30pm): Watch the garden grow as thousands of burning lanterns, simmering braziers and extraordinary fire sculptures flame into life and gradually die away again.
Teenage Kicks is by local artist Deepa Mann-Kler, inspired by the Undertones’ greatest hit.
The 30m-long neon sign will adorn principal City of Culture partner BT’s building and will be visible across the city.
Novak’s ‘Voyage’ is a stunning audio visual projection which will tell a delightful and colourful tale of time travel, using the world’s oldest independent department store Austins as a canvas.
Compagnie Carabosse’s Fire in the Garden features breathtaking glowing spheres, thousands of illuminated lanterns, simmering braziers and extraordinary sculptures, made from metal and flame which will blaze into life and transform St Columb’s into a magical fire garden.
One hundred and twenty local children from eight city schools worked with Portuguese artists Ocubo to make Twice Upon A Time. To be shown on the clock tower building at Ebrington Square, the animation will feature film of the children at work as they dream up an imaginary world
As well as the 16 permanent installations dotted around the city one will move around the city centre.
Public Projection is a new commission for Lumiere by renowned Polish artist, Krzysztof Wodiczko.
The artist, who is based at Harvard University in the US, talked to a citywide cross-section of people to record their stories, which reflect on past conflict and shared hopes for the future.
Those interviewed include serving and ex-police officers, those accused of offences from both sides of the political divide, victims of the Troubles, and young people, growing up in the aftermath of the conflict.
Their voices will be broadcast from a converted ambulance and their words projected onto buildings in several locations, as the vehicle moves around the city.
Festival volunteers on the streets, dressed in red, will be able to provide members of the public, with information on the artworks and help visitors find their way around the city
To avoid congestion, visitors to the festival are being encouraged to follow traffic information and directional signage as they approach the city.
For those choosing to drive, extra park and ride facilities have been provided with regular shuttle buses into the city while many city centre car parks extending their opening hours.
Although there are no planned road closures there may be some disruption to normal traffic movements during the festival and drivers are asked to exercise caution in city centre areas.
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