London may have just figured out a way to beat the winter blues. The city will be holding its first Lumiere London Festival in areas of Piccadilly, Mayfair, King’s Cross, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, St. James and Regent Street. From January 14 to 17, 30 light exhibits will illuminate popular statues and landmarks around the city from 6:30-10:30 p.m. every night. The installation is an attempt to brighten up what is considered to be the gloomiest days of the year, leading up to Blue Monday on January 18.
Produced by local art group Artichoke, the £2.5 million (approx. $3.7 million) event will consist of 3D art projections, light shows and interactive installations. Highlights include an interactive installation that uses smartphones to allow audiences to “paint” light onto their surroundings, a light elephant that walks through the archway on Air Street and a defunct red phone box that becomes a living aquarium filled with goldfish. Another spectacular display will be the projection of images from BAFTA’s archive onto the side of the organization’s building, showcasing photos of stars like Michael Caine, Olivia Coleman, Idris Elba, Steve McQueen and Julie Walters.
