LightNight 2017 announces eight new commissions

Liverpool's annual late-night culture crawl LightNight has revealed its eight new art commissions for 2017, from a suspended light installation recreating the Cathedral's 'crown' to a piece exploring the “lungs” of the St George’s Hall catacombs

Feature by The Skinny North | 16 Mar 2017

The theme for this year's LightNight (19 May) is Time, allowing artists to respond in unlimited ways, covering everything from the past, present and future of Liverpool to the influence of time on art, science and philosophy.

Alongside the hundreds of free events across the city, with galleries, museums and art spaces throwing open their doors until late, LightNight makes a number of brand new commissions for the festival each year. 

This year's eight commissions include a suspended light installation accompanied by music from Arvo Pärt; an audiovisual piece that the audience can control through data from their brainwaves and heartbeats; a performance inspired by Samuel Beckett, and a huge, collaborative vocal jam featuring a set from DJ Greg Wilson

The full programme will be revealed in April; find details of the eight new commissions below.

Andy McKeown at the Metropolitan Cathedral 

Artist Andy McKeown creates a suspended light installation in the round which will recreate the Metropolitan Cathedral's 'crown', marking 50 years since its consecration. Archive imagery will be interlaced with the stained glass and mixed live in response to the cathedral choir, who will perform Thomas Tallis' Lamentations, and organist performances including compositions by Arvo Pärt.

Jonathan Raisin: Where the Time goes...

What if there was a place that still resonated with everything that had ever happened there? Musician and composer Jonathan Raisin's sound installation invites you to reflect in a calm and meditative space hidden amidst the bustle of the festival.

Supersonic Assembly at Liverpool Cathedral

A huge vocal jam led by Tracey Carmen will feature community choirs performing music of the past 50 years, a singing workshop and a DJ set from Greg Wilson creating a joyous singing and dancing experience for all ages.

Logan & Wilcox: Zugzwang 

Artists Logan & Wilcox will create a new experimental audiovisual installation where multiple participants will control the work through biometric data such as brainwaves and heartbeat. Zugzwang (the name comes from a situation in chess when the obligation to make a move in one's turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage) will focus on how participants can act as ‘conductors’ in a hierarchical system – manipulating the effects generated by other participants.

MDI: Same As We Ever Were at Albert Dock

MDI’s experiential outdoor performances will see community groups and professional dance artists aged 1-75 attempt to stop time in its tracks, with new choreography exploring memory and ageing.

Friend or Foe: Bloom at St George's Hall

In an AV environment which creates a fluctuating sense of space and time, you can explore the underground “lungs” of the St George’s Hall catacombs in exclusive, site-specific performances.

Surtsey Projects at Gostin’s Building, Hanover Street

Surtsey Projects, which initiates collaborations between locals and creatives, brings together emerging artist Raphaella Davies and set, prop and costume designer Alexandra Morton to create an immersive and engaging durational performance work inspired by Samuel Beckett's Happy Days.

Paperwork Theatre: Typhoon & The Pedal Players

To celebrate Liverpool's hidden history, Paperwork Theatre bring time-travelling stories, myths and legends to the city streets. Follow the full route of playful theatrics, clowning and puppetry, or catch snippets throughout the night.

LightNight Liverpool 2017
Fri 19 May
Various venues, Liverpool

lightnightliverpool.co.uk