The skies above Leeds will be illuminated by a spectacular interactive laser display later this month when Light Night Leeds presents a new kind of cultural extravaganza.
Specially designed to allow people to enjoy the event safely, remotely and in line with social distancing, Laser Light City will give residents all across the city the chance to take charge of an incredible crisscrossing network of light beams shining from the rooftops of seven Leeds buildings.
Visible from miles around, the colours, movement and pattern of the impressive display, which is sponsored by The Light, can be controlled using a smartphone, tablet or computer and watched either in person, at home or via a live online video stream.
Created by BAFTA winning artist Seb Lee, the event on October 22-24 will be the first in stunning series of illuminated art works taking place through the autumn and winter, all aimed at bringing the city some light relief during an incredibly difficult year.
Leeds has become known across the world for its hugely popular Light Night events over the past 15 years. But restrictions in place to control the spread of COVID-19 and a vastly reduced budget have meant that the city’s usual October Light Night Festival has had to evolve and adapt.
For this year’s events, people are not being encouraged to travel into the city centre in large numbers or to gather in specific spaces, but instead enjoy events from a distance or remotely, over the course of the coming months.
Other installations presented by Light Night this autumn will include two new semi-permanent light artworks in the waterfront area which will reflect on the experiences of 2020.
A new text artwork with the message ‘I MISS YOU’ by Romanian artists Daisler Association will be installed at Leeds Dock in October, reflecting on all the things we have missed this year, including cultural and social events.
Then in November a large rainbow, GLORY, crafted in neon by local young people and Wakefield based Neon Workshops, will be installed on Water Lane, echoing the rainbow symbols used to thank NHS and keyworkers during the pandemic.
The British Library have also commissioned a new online digital artwork, Faint Signals, by Invisible Flock. Set in an imagined Yorkshire landscape and using the Library’s vast archive of digitised nature sounds, the work will launch online on November 10.
Light Night Leeds events will begin with Laser Light City on October 22-24 from 6pm until 11pm.
The experience can be seen from all over the city so there is no need to gather in a particular place. Anyone enjoying Light Night wherever they are is encouraged not to gather in groups, practice social distancing, wash and sanitise hands regularly and wear masks on public transport.
The festival hopes to return to its full programme in 2021 when the theme will be around nature and the environment.
For more information about events presented by Light Night Leeds, visit: www.lightnightleeds.co.uk or connect via social media.
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