Durham City Vision
Historic Gift Celebrates Artwork
30th September, 2008
North East artist George Robson has presented Enlightenment festival organisers with a traditional miner’s helmet to mark the completion of one of four spectacular light installations destined for Durham this autumn.
The helmet was donated by Durham Mining Heritage Centre and presented on the same day that the Indian artwork began its epic passage to North East England.
Light of Darkness by Indian artist Sanchayan Ghosh will comprise two shining eyes suspended under the arches of Durham’s historic Framwellgate Bridge, celebrating the county’s mining and industrial past with more than 300 helmets making up the glowing iris of each eye.
Focussing on the imposing Castle and Cathedral vista the eyes reference the importance of monk and scholar The Venerable Bede who’s blindness is the subject of much folklore. The piece also takes inspiration from the third eye of enlightenment in eastern society.
Mr Robson, who is famous for his depictions of The Durham Miners Gala, said: “It’s great to have world class artists focussing on the importance of mining to Durham.
“I’m thrilled that the people of Durham will have the opportunity to experience such high quality art installations within the City.”
Enlightenment: Durham International Light Festival was initiated with the support of Durham City Vision by Durham City Arts and will take place from November
6 – 8 as part of EAST ’08, a world class celebration of contemporary Asian culture in North East England developed by culture10.
Kate James, Events Co-ordinator at Durham City Vision said, “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Durham City Arts and Culture10 to bring this world class event to the City. This original and international celebration of Durham’s extraordinary religious and industrial history is truly unique, and illustrates our ambition to host top quality events in the City.”
Light of Darkness was commissioned by ISIS Arts along with Calcutta Lights by Nandita Palchoudhuri.
Calcutta Lights will use bamboo from the Bambuco Bridge which recently spanned the Tyne, reincarnating the material into two lit arches across Elvet Bridge. The arches will be decorated with intricate interpretations of the Durham Sanctuary Knocker and Rose Window created by thousands of tiny bulbs. The public will be able to walk through the installation.
Clymene Christoforou, co-director at ISIS Arts said, “What I find most exciting is that in a corner of India, the history of Durham is being analysed, interpreted and brought to life through art. We’re so looking forward to bringing the artists and their pieces to North East England.”
The festival will also comprise of two exhibits by UK based artists, commissioned by Durham City Arts. The works are inspired by the cultural fusion of east and west and are a representation of Durham’s historic and religious legacy.
Illuminated Carpet by Julie Westerman is inspired by Persian gardens and the rug making traditions of Durham. The complex patterns will represent the meditative writing and paintings of sacred texts and the contemplative patterns of Persian carpets.
Chandelier by Lulu Quinn is a 15m wide illuminated chandelier suspended from Kingsgate Bridge. Hanging from the structure will be text taken from the works of the venerable Bede, translated into Japanese, Modern English and Arabic. The multilingual extracts will be reflected by light onto the River Wear, enabling the text to be animated, distorted and mirrored.
