When the river lights up, it’s time to play. River of Light is turning playful for its latest instalment, with 12 large scale installations presented by some of the best light artists in the world, all inspired by the theme of ‘Play’.
Some of the works will help turn Liverpool’s waterfront into a playground, while others offer a deeper question around play and what it can mean for individuals, communities and a city as a whole.
River of Light is an annual free event that provides an outdoor illuminated gallery on Liverpool’s Waterfront, a loop, featuring light and sound from local, national and international artists.
River of Light 2024 Full Programme
Piano Walk by Amigo & Amigo
Piano Walk invites participants into a captivating musical experience. This installation features 40 interactive keys and piano hammers that strike the strings. The artists were inspired by the intricate details inside a piano, the craftsmanship, the materials and the colours and aimed to reflect these elements elegantly in the installation. Embracing the spirit of musical exploration, every participant is invited to jump on the oversized piano and become part of a collaborative performance, bringing the installation to life.
Artist: Amigo & Amigo
LAPS by Olivier Landreville
LAPS is a modern take on the traditional hourglass that gives us the opportunity to literally take control of time. From the top of their 7.8 ft, the 6 giant modules invite the public to change time by turning the steering wheel at their desired pace, in one direction or the other, and to take another look at their perception of time. Time catchers are rewarded with a sound and light experience that inspires immediate wonder.
Take control for a full lap of LAPS; hold your breath, sing a song, clap your hands, propose marriage, do whatever inspires you. Everyone gets to choose the time they want to spend here; this passage of time is truly yours!
Artist: LAPS was created by Olivier Landreville in collaboration with Serge Maheu, produced by Init and is powered by Creos.
Impulse by Lateral Office & CS Design
Transforming public space into a big, luminous and interactive playground Impulse invites you into a playful, multisensory experience with a standby of childhood play: the seesaw. The installation is a series of teeter-totters that respond to riders’ movements with fluctuating light and sound. With this urban instrument, you will help create an ephemeral environment in constant renewal. However, Impulse’s sights and sounds are not random. Inspired by serialism, a musical method of composition, the installation creates different zones of varying intensity and calm. Impulse is an invitation to play, to laugh and to interact. It creates a collective experience of joy and community.
Artist: Lateral Office & CS Design
Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos by MURUGIAH
A 1.8 metre tall fibreglass sculpture with a reflective internal face. Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos is public art light sculpture celebrating Diwali. The 3D sculpture also featured large interactive floor graphics at specific slots. Originally Installed as part of the London Design Festival in 2023.
To mark Diwali, the Festival of Light, on Friday 1 November, Culture Liverpool is working with Liverpool-based Indian arts and culture organisation, Milap to programme activity which will take place near to the Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos installation.
Artist: MURUGIAH
Bubblesque by Atelier Sisu
Bubblesque at Mann Island is an adaptive part of Atelier Sisu’s ‘Bubble-tecture’ collection. This bespoke interactive iteration draws in the audience’s innate sense of curiosity and play, and has been created specifically for the bodies of water around Mann Island. Overflowing onto the land around the water, bubbles fill the area, reminding the audience of a larger-than-life bath tub.
Each interactive module engages a series of water-based droplets. When touched, the bubbles dance with colour, each cycling through series of curated animation sequences. When not interacted with, the bubbles gently flow through colour gradients to ensure that the artwork presents a dynamic presence in the space.
Artist: Atelier Sisu
Illusion Hole by UxU Studio
Illusion Hole is the sixth artwork in the ‘Use Your Illusion’ series by UxU Studio. This series, which utilizes meteor lights, was born from the studio’s curiosity about how visitors experience the dynamic movement of light. UxU Studio believes that light, while not a physical substance, can be shaped and transformed into something meaningful, creating new interpretations and perceptions.
In Illusion Hole, light is arranged in a precise geometric pattern, creating the mesmerizing illusion of water flowing into a mysterious, unknown black hole. As we observe this captivating display, UxU Studio prompts us to question our perceptions: Are we truly aware of the existence of the water beneath the light, or do we accept the illusion as reality, blurring the lines between what is real and what is false? This thought-provoking installation challenges our understanding of reality, encouraging us to explore the boundaries between truth and illusion.
Artist: UxU Studio
Positive Spin by Liz Harry
Positive Spin is a 5.5m high machine from the collective minds of artistic experience creators Invisible Wind Factory and illustrator Liz Harry that invites you to step up and receive a random fortune.
Inspired by a love of summers spent at beach front arcades it’s part immersive experience and part spectacle, this brand new commission aims to share the importance of looking forward positively.
Artist: Liz Harry
Lightbattle III by VENIVIDIMULTIPLEX
Lightbattle III is an exciting and immersive experience that celebrates the joy of cycling. The installation features two interactive arches of light, with six bicycles each other from opposite sides. Participants hop on and pedal as fast as they can, with the speed of their cycling causing the lights to intensify in colour. The fastest cyclist is rewarded with a dazzling burst of light, adding to the thrill of the competition.
For the Liverpool exhibition, the installation has been specially adjusted to enhance accessibility and inclusivity. Two of the bicycles have been replaced with hand bikes, making it possible for everyone to join in the fun.
Artist: VENIVIDIMULTIPLEX
Bunch of Tulips by Koros Design
When you think of tulips, you think of vibrant color and beauty. This installation by Koros Design inflates this iconic flower to epic proportions, putting it into historical context. Did you know that tulips saw an enormous surge in popularity in the 1630s, a period famously known as ‘tulipmania’?
Koros Design Studio wanted to recreate a bouquet of tulips on a grand scale. The work embodies elements of Pop Art, where the sheer quantity, size, and color of the tulips reflect and celebrate our culture of mass consumption—a playful, kitschy take on a historical and widely recognized symbol.
Fun fact: During tulipmania, these flowers became so sought after that their price skyrocketed—a single bouquet could cost as much as a house!
Artist: Koros Design
No Place Like Gnome by Amigo & Amigo
No Place Like Gnome invites participants on a whimsical journey, where each gnome transforms into a charming companion for a photographic exploration of iconic landmarks and hidden treasures. Embracing the essence of global adventure, every gnome carries its own distinctive character and narrative, encouraging visitors to embark on a captivating quest through their local precinct.
Discover the secret hideouts of these travellers and uncover the magic they bring to every corner of your journey.
Artist: Amigo & Amigo
Checkmate by Amigo & Amigo
Chess, a timeless symbol of strategic play, transcends cultures and languages, fostering connections among people from diverse backgrounds. Checkmate aims to bring this universal appeal to public spaces, ensuring accessibility and engagement across all ages and cultures. Like an intricate dance of ‘mini sculptures’, each chess piece embodies its own rules and movements, inviting players into a poetic interplay of intellect and concentration.
By transforming this iconic symbol into a monumental spectacle, the public is invited to undertake a wondrous and expansive journey of extraordinary proportions. Each chess piece draws inspiration from the 20th Century Bauhaus movement, a pivotal era where art and design converged, shaping modern aesthetics. This artwork reverently pays homage to Bauhaus’s historical impact, celebrating its fusion of creativity and functionality.
Artist: Amigo & Amigo
Firefly Field by Studio Toer
What is the collective noun for a group of fireflies? A swarm seems too beastly. A lantern? A twinkle? A shimmer of fireflies?
Firefly Field is a mesmerizing light installation of numerous flying light points that simulate the movements of these nocturnal Lampyridae. Glowing. Darting. Hovering above the ground. The ever-changing bioluminescence of each one is reflected in the grassy slope. On mass, they create a dynamic light scene that triggers visitors’ curiosity and awe.
With Firefly Field, Studio Toer shares their fascination for the aesthetics and movement of these tiny winged creatures and their interest in the way dynamic moving light can express a mood. This minimalist arrangement consists of specially developed LED light points that seem to hover in mid-air. Their unique dynamic composition gives each firefly its unpredictable and natural movement.
Firefly Field premiered at VIVID Sydney in 2019 and has been exhibited at several worldwide events ever since.
Artist: Studio Toer
For more information about River of Light Liverpool 2024 visit visitliverpool.com/riveroflight.