Celebrating the diverse and thriving creativity of Leeds, Light Night Leeds is an annual free multi-arts and light festival that takes over Leeds City Centre for two nights in October.
This year’s festival theme is ‘Play’. Artists from around the world will create pieces to be displayed around the city, indoors and outdoors, projected onto buildings and in live-action performances.
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There will be over 50 artworks lighting up the city during Light Night Leeds, with 4 spectacular installations located right in the heart of Leeds Dock! See details below:
The Shape of Light
Thursday 13 October – Saturday 15 October
6pm – 11pm
The Shape of Light is a mesmerising floating art installation that showcases geometric arrangements of light and colour against the urban backdrop of Leeds Dock. The installation is situated on a pontoon that visitors can access and walk around. After sunset the installation will create a dazzling reflection in the water below, adding a new dimension to the experience.
Parental supervision of children is required.
Kinetic Perspective by Juan Fuentes
Thursday 13 October – Saturday 15 October
6pm – 11pm
Inspired by the Optical Art illusions of the 1960s, Kinetic Perspective takes a simple piece as its starting point: an ever-spinning circle moving outwards and its illusory effect. In this way, the artist creates an abstract, immersive geometric shape, playing with the perspective of visitors by giving the impression of movement. A row of eighteen illusions, each composed of two circles spinning in sync, gives the impression of a vanishing point at the eye level of visitors. Invited to actively participate and observe, the audience must move around to uncover the patterns, glimmers and distortions, in which a hidden geometry will be revealed. This installation will be located on the Boulevard at Leeds Dock.
Suitable for all ages.
Light Stream by FloLux / Flora Litchfield
Thursday 13 October – Saturday 15 October
6pm – 11pm
Artist Flora Litchfield is interested in exploring the balance between technology and nature – can we imagine a future where society lives and works with nature instead of against it? Lightstream is an immersive laser light installation exploring human perception through spatial audio-visual compositions. The installation draws our focus onto waters energy in the hope to bring us closer to the nature around us and find a new sense of harmony with the cityscape. Watch laser beams dance above one of Leeds’ forgotten waterways bringing it to life with light and sound. Lightstream is an intuitive multi-sensory work with no understanding needed and can be enjoyed by any age.
Light Knights and Castles
Thursday 13 October – Friday 14 October
Shows will take place at 18:15 | 19:00 | 19:45 | 20:30 and last between 15 and 20 minutes.
The Royal Armouries’ chess army needs you! Join the glowing pawn ranks to help their giant luminous castles, knights and bishops checkmate the opposition. Come and watch a quirky, interactive performance inspired by the Royal Armouries collection and the Light Night 2022 ‘Play’ theme. This free event will take place outside on Armouries Square – no need to book. Members of their team will be on hand all evening to talk about the amazing puppets.
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Light Night Leeds promises to deliver an experience that’s nothing short of spectacular, with more art installations to be announced soon!
For more information about the festival programme please visit the Leeds Light Night website here.
Food & Drink
Open from 6pm – 9pm on 13 & 14 October for Light Night Leeds, purchase a toasty takeaway batch brew coffee, heavenly hot chocolate or chai latte from North Star to warm you up as you explore the city’s light art trail. There will also be a selection of canned beers, soft drinks, brownies and pastries on offer.
