Staged around outdoor locations across MediaCity and Salford Quays, Lightwaves Festival has made a return, inviting visitors to explore a trail of dramatic light art installations that animate and transform the urban waterside area in the lead up to Christmas. With previous events featuring fire sculptures and butterfly clusters as well as Luke Jerram’s ‘Floating Earth’ installation take to the water, the line-up of beautiful light sculptures for this year have been highly-anticipated.
Now in its eleventh year, the free event will take place from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th December, lighting up different locations around Salford Quays and MediaCity. From 4pm to 10pm each evening, visitors can enjoy illuminated works from leading artists, both local and national, bringing a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful.
The full programme for Lightwaves Festival 2024
This year Lightwaves features 14 artworks, five of which are brand new commissions and are hosting their world premieres in Salford. Visitors can expect a variety of different works using light, sound and technology to create an unforgettable experience.
Monad
Monad by Anastasia Isachsen is a giant projection based artwork that will be seen across the water from MediaCity. At 30m wide, this huge artwork incorporates video projection using a mist of water as a screen and is accompanied by a deeply emotional musical composition by the renowned jazz composer Arve Henriksen. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular experience of Monad for an extended run until December 22.
SomniUs
SomniUs by illumaphonium is a huge interactive light and sound installation constructed using over 6km of LED lights suspended 3m above the audience. As people move, the sound and lights respond and patterns change and grow – becoming more dramatic with every person that joins in. SomniUs is a new commission by Light up the North network.
SYSTEM LIGHTWAVES PSB
SYSTEM LIGHTWAVES PSB is an exciting new commission that invites you into a world of lights, screens, sounds, and the chaotic world of bike riders in the urban environment. This artwork is by multi-disciplinary artist Gaika in collaboration with Belinda Everett – Manchester’s Bicycle Mayor – and is rooted in the culture of cycling for survival.
The Matter of The Heart
The Matter of The Heart is the brand new artwork by award-winning art studio idontloveyouanymore. This joyful interactive artwork will incorporate heartbeat data from real people in real time – becoming an expression of the collective power of community. Audiences are invited to walk among the 100 flashing hearts which represent people with a connection to Manchester and Salford and their real-time heart beats.
Stellar Waves
Stellar Waves is a visionary kinetic light sculpture, specially crafted for Lightwaves 2024 by Manchester-based Lazerian, the creative design studio of artist Liam Hopkins. This kinetic sculptural installation draws inspiration from the vast and enigmatic realms of space exploration and the striking visual language of 1980s graphics.
RED FIELD
Step into a glitching Martian landscape and leave your own footprints on Mars’ alien and politically contested landscape. RED FIELD is a brand new immersive and interactive art installation, presented at University of Salford MediaCity. Created by artist collaboration Nye Thompson x Krisstoffer Dunk.
Entwined
Entwined is an interactive light installation that celebrates the community spirit of Salford. Located in MediaCity Gardens this brand new piece combines voices, sound, light, sculpture, and painting to create a multisensory experience. Entwined is a Quays Culture commission debuting at Lightwaves Salford 2024.
A Cry For Help
A Cry For Help by Ben Everard is an interactive, thought-provoking artwork about helping the insect world. A collection of glittering insect sculptures slowly go dark when there’s no one there and brighten up when people move close again. A joint commission between Quays Culture and RHS Glow.
For peace!
For peace! is a 125 m long artwork depicting a series of moving figures who go from walking to running, presented waterside along the quays – a personal expression of freedom and peace by Slovakian light artist sedemminut.
I caught a…
I caught a… is a playful artwork by French artist Stéphane Masson. As night falls, you will discover a changing series of curiosities exhibited in a cage erected in the street to enchant passers-by. A goldfish, an elephant or even a solitary cloud – who knows what you’ll see?
On the Wave of Light
On the Wave of Light is an interactive installation that celebrates the vibration of light. Created by Those Guys Lighting from Latvia, and consisting of 100 interactive light poles, this playful artwork will respond to the interaction of visitors and is sure to be a favourite with younger visitors.
REFLECT
A calmer atmosphere is evoked by REFLECT by Emma Gasson which encourages people to ‘drift’ and relax as they interact with the surface of water, generating ripples and reflections for personal contemplation and an escape from busy productivity.
Through No 4
A permanent artwork and a much loved MediaCity landmark, Through No 4 by Liz West will be beautifully illuminated for the duration of Lightwaves Festival, creating a multi-coloured jewel in the dark and the perfect photo opportunity.
The Light Within
Finally, The Light Within has been commissioned by Quays Culture, designed and produced by students at the Academy of Live Technology. Premiered at Lightwaves Salford, the artwork explores the impact that light has on our wellbeing in a playful and interactive way – harnessing the students’ skill in cutting edge creative technology.
Kate Doyle, Head of Programme for Quays Culture shared her excitement about this year’s line-up: “The team at Quays Culture are truly excited by the programme of artworks curated for what will be the 11th edition of Lightwaves Salford. Year on year the event delights audiences of all ages and we’re certain that 2024 will be no exception. The programme is one of our best yet and we’re looking forward to seeing visitors’ reactions to our thought-provoking new commissions.
“In the dark winter months, human beings are instinctively drawn to light and the chance to gather together with other people. All are welcome to Lightwaves Salford to experience the joy of light art!”
Lightwaves Festival is free for visitors to attend and aims to bring light and positivity to the cold, dark evenings. Open to everyone, the artworks at Lightwaves Festival are fun, interactive and thought-provoking. There are no tickets required to attend, visitors can simply turn up and walk the festival at their own leisure.
Find out more about Lightwaves Salford here and visitors can download the full programme (with map) here before they visit.