London in mid-January can be a dark, gloomy city – but not this year. For four nights, the capital's dark streets are being lit up by more than 50 light-based artworks across the city as part of the Lumiere arts festival.
People cycle to power the installation The Rose by Mick Stephenson at Westminster Cathedral PlazaChris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
Organisers say more than a million people attended the free festival when it was first held in the city two years ago, enjoying the rare chance to stroll usually traffic-clogged streets closed to traffic. Helen Marriage, director of arts charity Artichoke, which organises Lumiere, said the festival taps into a hunger for live experience — "the 'be there or you've missed it' moment" — in an age when we spend much of our time staring at screens. "Standing in a crowd, sharing a moment, is really important," she said.
IBTimes UK presents photos of some of the installations dotted around London. For more information, download the free app for Android or iPhone. The full programme is on the Lumiere website.
Visitors to the South Bank walk through The Wave, by VertigoPeter Nicholls/ReutersThe Wave by Vertigo at Riverside Walkway, South BankDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesWaterlicht by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde at Granary Square, King's CrossJustin Tallis/AFPA man feeds treats to his dogs at the installation Waterlicht, by Daan Roosegaarde at Granary Square, Kings CrossChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesMembers of the public interact with Illumaphonium by Michael Davis, Mount Street, MayfairDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesMembers of the public interact with Impulse by Lateral Office and CS Design in South Molton Street, MayfairDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesThe Light of the Spirit Chapter 2 by Patrice Warrener at Westminster AbbeyChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesThe Light of the Spirit Chapter 2 by Patrice Warrener at Westminster AbbeyChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesReflektor by Studio Roso in St James's MarketDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesEntre Les Rangs by Rami Bebawi at Lewis Cubitt, Kings CrossChris J Ratcliffe/Getty ImagesLight on Their Feet Footfalls for Rambert by David Ward on the South BankDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesEchelle by Ron Haselden on top of St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Trafalgar SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesVoyage by Camille Gross and Leslie Epsztein in Piccadilly CircusDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesMembers of the public interact with Supercube by Stephane Masson in St James's MarketDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesLove Motion by Rhys Coren in the Royal Academy CourtyardDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesChild Hood, by Collectif Coin in Trafalgar SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesWas That a Dream? by Cedric Le Borgne in Berkeley SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesSpectral, by Katarzyna Malejka and Joachim Slugocki in St James's SquareDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesThe Plug and Bulbs by James Glancy Design on Ganton Street, CarnabyEamonn McCormack/Getty Images for Lumiere London, London's West EndControl No Control by Daniel Iregui, Whitfield Gardens, FitzroviaJustin Tallis/AFPLightbench by Bernd Spiecker for LBO LichtBankObjekte, on Weighhouse Street, MayfairJustin Tallis/AFPAquarium by artists Benedetto Bufalino and Benoit Deseille, on Earlham Street at Seven DialsJustin Tallis/AFPNightlife by the Lantern Company with Jo Pocock in Leicester Square GardensEamonn McCormack/Getty Images for Lumiere London, London's West EndNightlife, by Jo Pocock and the Lantern Company at Leicester Square GardensEamonn McCormack/Getty Images for Lumiere London, London's West EndLampounette by TILT at King's Boulevard, Kings CrossChris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
