If you are like others in different parts of our world, there is often little fun left once the Christmas lights are down, Santa has bedded down, and that four-letter word work returns uninvited. However, this is not necessarily true, especially if you are in or around London, where some captivating lights were left on until just a few days ago! With its recently extinguished flame, Canary Wharf's Winter Lights Festival, London, has kept the fun of the yuletide season fresh in many hearts. Here is what you should know about this memorable event that must be seen to be believed.
As mentioned earlier, the Winter Lights festival, whose eighth edition was held between Wednesday, January 17 and Saturday, January 27, at Canary Wharf's parks, is usually earmarked to celebrate the end of winter and usher in the lighter seasons. This edition was outstanding and undoubtedly designed to showcase the spectacular works of light artists. It creatively engaged light and art to entertain the visitors. In addition to the beautiful scenes tailored to blow the guests’ minds, the guests could also patronise pop-up food markets and bars. You are sure to get special drinks and delicious street delights there. Now, what about the lights themselves, heh?
The magnificent light event featured thirteen temporary installations and six permanent fittings. On entering the largest outdoor Public Art collection, you were drawn to the beautiful 100 LED light sticks installed one metre apart. This – “On the Wave of Light”– installation is motion-sensitive as it brightens every time you move close or walk past each stick. The brightening and dimming effects, along with the wave-like arrangement, make it a perfect fit for the festival's entrance. What’s more…
The Winter Lights Festival, which first raised its head in 2014, featured exciting see-and-do activities this year. These activities included having fun in the UK's largest indoor go-karting track. Also, you get to play shuffleboard or practice your target shooting skills. And, of course, what is winter fun time without skating? The guests had the opportunity to spin, twirl and fall to their hearts’ content at Canary Wharf. With all these fun features, the Winter Lights festival was free and full of a variety of activities, particularly at the weekends.
The art installations, including "On the Wave of Light," "Riverside Neuron," and "Westferry Circus LES OISEAUX", were switched on daily between 5 pm and 10 pm. During these opening hours, you could see the one hundred circles of red light around the Cubitt Steps Bridge. This artwork is called the Clew. Alongside other exciting artwork at the outdoor event, anyone in attendance was guaranteed to have a memorable time admiring the displays at the Clew.
Canary Wharf's Winter Lights Festival may be in hibernation for the year now. However, its luminous effects will shine as bright as a beacon for many a day. Through the engaging lights, we learnt a little from Roy T. Bennett's musings. We learned to light a candle in others’ darkest moments this year, and we learned to be the light that helps others see, giving life its deepest significance.
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