Durham City Vision
Into The Light: The Enlightenment Programme
14th October, 2008
Enlightenment: Durham International Light Festival is a spectacular international art exhibition, which will firmly establish Durham as a centre for cultural excellence and innovation this autumn.
This visually stunning event will illuminate the City’s autumn evenings for visitors and residents from November 6-8.
Enlightenment is a celebration of Durham’s industrial and religious past as interpreted through the eyes of four artists who have been inspired both by the mystery and colour of eastern culture, and by the county’s iconic images, folklore and tradition. The festival will showcase four original and commanding light installations constructed on and under the City’s bridges, together creating a stunning multi-cultural arts festival.
Two of the pieces have been designed and made in the heart of Calcutta by Indian artists Nandita Palchoudhuri and Sanchayan Ghosh; the remaining two are the work of established UK artists Lulu Quinn and Julie Westerman and are inspired by the vibrant culture of eastern society to bring Durham’s rich and diverse history to life through the inventive use of light.
Entering the city through bamboo arches lit by thousands of tiny hand crafted bulbs, the public will encounter the first art work constructed over Elvet Bridge.
Inspired by the traditional Durga Puja Festival in the Indian city of the same name, Calcutta Lights by Nandita Palchoudhuri will be decorated with intricate interpretations of the Durham Sanctuary Knocker and Rose Window. The structure has been created through recycling bamboo from the temporary ‘Bambuco’ bridge which recently spanned the River Tyne as part of NewcastleGateshead’s world-class programme of festivals and events.
Viewed from the banks of the River Wear and Prebends Bridge, Illuminated Carpet by Julie Westerman is a floating sculpture inspired by designs in the ‘Carpet Pages’ of the Lindisfarne Gospels, and the complex weavings of Persian carpets. The design focuses on the highly favoured rose motif, merging Indian Moghal designs with the pattern books of the Barnard Castle carpet industry.
Light of Darkness by Indian artist Sanchayan Ghosh will comprise two shining eyes suspended under the arches of Durham’s historic Framwelgate 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 has been subject to much folklore. The piece also takes inspiration from the third eye of enlightenment in eastern society.
The final piece is a reflected suspended work displaying illuminated multilingual text taken from the writings of the Venerable Bede. Chandelier by Lulu Quinn is 15m wide, and will exhibit the ancient text, translated into modern English, from left to right across the breadth of the artwork.
The same text will also be translated into Arabic and will be displayed in the opposite direction with a Japanese translation hanging vertically, and hovering just above the surface of the River Wear. Suspended from Kingsgate Bridge, the work will appear mirrored, distorted and animated in the water below.
The main programme will be supported by Intermittent a series of smaller light based artworks, projections and film clips, linking the key commissions and providing a unique opportunity for visitors to enjoy the City’s beautiful architecture and commercial heart.
This stunning event has been initiated by Durham City Arts with support from Durham City Vision. It will take place as part of EAST’08, a world-class celebration of contemporary Asian culture in North East England developed by culture10.
Installations by the Indian artists were commissioned by ISIS Arts, whilst those designed by the UK artists are looked after by Grit & Pearl.
