Next month, one of Liverpool’s most popular events, River of Light, will return to illuminate the city’s centre.
From Friday, October 21st to Sunday, November 6th, River of Light will illuminate the waterfront over the course of 17 nights and feature ten works of art along a 2 km route by a variety of local, national, and international artists.
The installations will include a mix of brand new, never-before-seen commissions as well as existing artworks which haven’t been on display in the city before.
The theme of this year’s FREE event is Unexpected Twist in a nod to the World Gymnastics Championships 2022 which is taking place in the city during the same period.
Full details of all ten pieces, the artists and their locations will be unveiled next month, but to whet people’s appetite the team behind the trail has announced the first two pieces:
- BEAM – A brand new commission by the acclaimed Lucid Creates (artists Helen Swan and Chris Carr) will see a beam of light transport visitors to a hot, summer’s day, accompanied by the sounds of the British countryside. But after several minutes the feeling of peace and warmth will change to unease and suspense… Located at Canning Graving Dock, opposite Museum of Liverpool, the artists behind the work are no strangers to River of Light and have previously showcased large-scale artworks including 2021’s incredibly popular Dance Together – a huge tribute to the legendary nightclub Chibuku.
- Evanescent – A series of giant bubbles will take over Exchange Flags courtesy of Australian artists Atelier Sisu. The immersive sound and light structure will react to visitors as they explore the artwork, depicting the transient nature of human existence. It has already been showcased in locations including Taiwan, the USA, Greece and Australia.
Artist Helen Swan, from Lucid Creates said:
“The experiences we design are always formed through collaboration between the place and its people, the soundscape and its composers, and the structure and its visuals.
“Every time we bring one of our projects to River of Light, Liverpool and its people unite with us in creating spectacular experiences that are entirely unique in energy and style.
“BEAM is our latest experience, commissioned by Culture Liverpool especially for River of Light 2022 and its theme is Balance. All of Earth’s energy is fuelled from the sun, our relationship with, and dependency on the sun hangs in a delicate balance. BEAM invites us to consider this balance by taking audiences on a journey of flux through joy, tension and release.”
November 2021’s River of Light event was hailed as the most successful to date, with around 150,000 visitors enjoying the festival. City centre restaurants and shops saw an increase in demand and at the time, Liverpool BID Company recorded its highest footfall rates since the start of the pandemic, with 1.5 million people visiting the retail area during the October half term 2021. Liverpool ONE also benefitted, with 15 per cent more diners at its restaurants, compared to the same period in 2019. And there was also a retail boost with a 44 per cent increase in sales – particularly in shops that sold toys, games and athletics/leisure wear.
River of Light will be delivered by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team and is supported by Arts Council England.
To get the latest information visit www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight or follow @visitliverpool
