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Let there be light

We Heart Light
We Heart Light

Scotland’s biggest urban light festival kicks off in Aberdeen tonight. Your Weekend finds out what’s on offer

 

This is the time of year many of us opt to avoid the outdoors.

As winter wears on, it becomes all the more tempting to stay at home with a cuppa and a good book or film.

But why not save staying indoors until the April showers and take in the sights of Spectra: Aberdeen’s Festival of Light now?

Starting tonight, the annual festival will showcase some of the most mesmerising displays across The Granite City.

From a fire garden of glowing, flaming metal sculptures to cascading fiery fountains, there’s something for everyone at the interactive and inspiring event.

There will be wacky experiments using granite dust, oil and water to create light and sound patterns as well as a digitised Icelandic choir.

When Spectra launched two years ago, 17,000 people turned up to see Union Terrace Gardens and its nearby architecture sparkle in the depths of winter.

This year, the event will have more than 20 installations to thrill its visitors across its four city-centre venues.

Organised by Aberdeen City Council, the free event invites audiences to engage with playful, accessible and high-quality performances, spaces and works of art using light, sound and interactive experiences.

The four-day light extravaganza will reflect the theme Spark of Inspiration to celebrate the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

The local authority has contributed £200,000 to the festival and deputy leader Councillor Marie Boulton said it will be an exciting family event.

She added: “Now in its third year, the festival highlights Aberdeen as an area of light and creativity and as a city of design and technology with a strong cultural heritage.

“The festival also brings together the diversity of the area’s cultural offerings and encourages people to come back for more.”

 

yw-SpectraLightWave
Light Wave Power by Paul Friedlander

One of the main events this year is world-renowned digital artist Jen Lewin, who, for the first time, is taking her groundbreaking installation The Pool to Scotland.

Already, the display has been admired by thousands since it was made in 2012. It comprises 40,000 light-emitting diodes and computerised pads that change colours as visitors hop, skip and jump on them.

It’s like a giant game of light ping-pong and guests will be enthralled, running and jumping, adding, bouncing and mixing light together.

The installation has travelled to more than 30 major international festivals, including Burning Man, the Winter Lights Festival at Canary Wharf, the Istanbul Light Festival and the iLight Marina Bar in Singapore.

Gary Craig, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, which sponsors The Pool, said: “We are delighted to be supporting The Pool, which is a truly eye-catching and enchanting art installation.

“The artwork has become a global success and it is fantastic to welcome Jen Lewin to Aberdeen.”

Light and interactive sculptor Jen said: “I have travelled with The Pool all over the world and I am thrilled to see how Aberdeen will engage with interactive public art at Spectra 2016.”

Elsewhere, the tombstones at St Nicholas Kirkyard will be subtly illuminated, bringing to life the sometimes bypassed features.

This kirk will also host Surrounded By Strangers, an immersive digital choir installation inspired by tales from the South Iceland Chamber Choir.

Twelve screens will be placed in the circular room, with each showing a choir member performing a single track. But when played together, guests will experience the whole group.

Over at Marischal College, visitors are being invited to create their own origami bird to hang on the iconic granite building to complement artist Kathy Hinde’s 1,000 Birds.

yw-Spectra1000birds
Kathy Hinde’s 1,000 Birds

This display will consist of a collection of 1,000 origami cranes which, according to an ancient Japanese legend, are said to grant a wish of peace.

There will also be a tribute to some of Aberdeen’s most influential innovators, as Double Take’s architectural-scale masterpiece fills the quad of the famous building.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “With
Scotland’s 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, we have
the opportunity to put Scotland on the map in a new and exciting
way, positioning the country as a mix of traditional and cutting-edge
at the same time. Spectra 2016 continues to grow from strength to strength, offering both locals and visitors to the area a wonderful
opportunity to experience Aberdeen’s beautiful architecture in a new light.”
Spectra runs from today, Thursday, February 11, to Sunday, February 14, between 6.30pm and 10pm nightly. Visit www.spectraaberdeen.com for details.