Humanity Hallows Issue 4 Out Now!
Pick up your copy on campus or read online
By Megan Russell
Salford Quays has recently welcomed back for the second year running the Lightwaves Festival, the UK’s largest digital celebration of illuminated art. The festival sees emerging artists present their unique demonstrations of art along the Quays waterfront, with some actually making an appearance in the River Irwell itself.
A title that leaves much to the imagination, Lightwaves resonates a sci-fi family-friendly feel, exciting visitors to the possible wonders the festival has to offer. Like a moth to a flame, I found myself drawn to engaging light displays both natural and man made, the more unique the better.
However, with all this excitement I also found myself a little disheartened, with the accreditation of the UK’s largest digital festival and the shipping in of the famous Blackpool illuminations visitors to the festival would perhaps expect there to be a little more than 9 displays of art work.
Walking towards the Quays, guests are greeted by the ‘Voyage’ a large scale artwork of 198 origami boats, elegantly floating on the water of Dock 9. Created by ‘Aether and Hemera’, the artwork incorporates an interactive feature whereby visitors can control the light display mirrored onto the boats from their phone. From options of a multi-coloured rainbow to a night sky effect reflected onto the water, the exhibit really is mesmerising.
My favourite piece of the exhibition was the poetic words of Massimo Uberti and Marco Pollice. ‘Today I Love You’ is an art work that captures the viewers heart, soul and mind. Standing proudly at the centre of Media City’s Piazza, it is most definitely the main attraction. Formerly commissioned for Amsterdam’s Light Festival in 2015, the piece is slowly making its way around Europe, spreading its words of affection. Unfortunately, when I visited the attraction, the words ‘Today I’ weren’t actually lit up, but the message still spoke of warmth and was exciting to see.
As someone who has experienced the Blackpool illuminations numerous times, I was somewhat excited when I heard that some of their quaintly cheesy decorations would be making their way to Salford. As you approach the vibrant architectural background that is Media City the distinctive sound of Daleks echoes around the piazza. It was a nice touch incorporating the Doctor Who illuminations into the festival, linking the television backdrop within the art.
Yet everything that is the illuminations was lost, the whole fun idea of trailing the lights from one end of the sea front (water front in Salford’s case) to the other gone. There’s no designated walkway to navigate yourself around just individual art works placed randomly over the Quays leaving you almost lost until you stumble onto the next display.
Despite the Lightwaves festival not being all I anticipated, it did allow me to appreciate the sheer architectural brilliance that Salford has to offer, especially from inside a transparent pop-up bar.
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