Dazzling Displays: Leeds Light Night 2024
Last month, Leeds lit up with art exhibitions in every corner of the city. Amid drizzling rain, the city centre was bursting with colours, and the docks were crowded with spectators. Three of our writers, Malak, Ansharah, and Aeryn, give us a rundown of the best displays and installations of the night across the university zone…
Environment and Education; The Collaboration with the University
Light Night has famously lit up the city centre since 2005, however, recently a hidden gem made its way to campus. There, a dynamic showcase of creativity and curiosity took place, inviting visitors to explore themes of sustainability, the ‘impossible’ and of course, light, through learning, teaching, and raising awareness. The University Zone collaborated with Leeds Light Night to create a space where art, science, and education converged. The installation’s main themes centred around nature and sustainability, encouraging attendees, especially young minds, to rethink conventional ideas. The exhibits on campus highlighted the festival’s themes of “making the impossible possible” and fostering curiosity through hands-on experiences and artistic interpretations of complex concepts.
Among the highlights was Be Curious, which transformed Parkinson Court into an interactive space featuring activities for all ages. In honour of the legacy of John Smeaton (the ‘father of civil engineering’), this area explored the wonders of science, inviting participants to uncover the secrets of how our world works. Through hands-on activities, participants of all ages explored the superpowers of trees and ecosystems, learning how nature sustains and improves urban life. Similarly, at the John Smeaton Planetarium, audiences were captivated by a moving display that combined astronomical visuals with music to plot data sets, a brilliant collaboration between the Music department, and the departments of Physics and Astronomy at the university.
Meanwhile, the Leaf Lanterns installation, created by the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere, and Forest Centre, brought an enchanting glow to the campus. Illuminated pressed leaves adorning the trees not only celebrated nature’s beauty but also served as a strong reminder of our environmental responsibilities, fostering a deeper appreciation and awareness for our natural world. This beautiful collaboration between art and science encouraged our reflection on how education can empower communities to protect and cherish our beloved planet.
Sustainability Through Art
The impactful works of The Student Commissions for Light Night consisted of pieces by Ed Green, Eleanor Craig and Kelly Cumberland. Green’s glowing square mirrors in a structure of found materials was an intimate, intriguing display near the Edward Boyle Library. Craig’s work, at the tree outside the Social Science building, reminded one of lit-up root systems. The lights appeared whenever there was lots of noise, meaning it was continually flickering during the peak of Light Night attendance. Everyone looking at it delighted in clapping loudly to see it glow. Cumberland’s work was inside the Pyramid Theatre rather than out in the open but was definitely worth looking for. It beautifully combined art and science by showing cellular processes through light and shadow.
Light Night also promoted sustainability for the protection of animals through displays like Immortal Bloom, near the Sign for Art sculpture (the ‘wavy bacon’ statue). Made by the Immortal Bloom Art Company, over 60 volunteers worked to create glowing jellyfish in the trees, a mesmerising display overlooking the campus. Adding to its beauty was the use of reusable electronic waste and other recycled items to create the installation, breathing new life into recycled items. The Space Between the Lights, meanwhile, followed an audio trail of animal sounds – including bats, peregrine falcons, hedgehogs, and blackbirds: the sounds of campus wildlife. The collection of displays was a triumph of collaboration between the university’s Sustainability team and the Cultural Institute, a wonderful use of the power of art.
The Nectary, a multi-sensory artwork that featured six huge upside-down flower blooms, appeared next to the Union to celebrate the importance of our pollinating insects. This piece is a collaboration between local artist Alison Smith, and animal biologist Dr Chris Hassall, who used bioacoustics to mimic insect hums when visitors stepped underneath the huge blooms. The display was lovingly handcrafted from recycled materials and invited us to reflect on the often-forgotten little creatures that are so intrinsic to our survival and tied in with the event’s overarching theme of sustainability.
The Power of Intellect
A further astonishing feat of collaboration is the connection between two of the University Zone displays: the National Poetry Centre and Student Commissions for Light Night, which both showcased creativities appealing to students. If it weren’t enough that the National Poetry Centre was lit up in stunning, eye-catching pinks and purples, the words of renowned poet Maura Dooley made the exhibit one to remember. Visitors to the display were able to hear her spoken poetry as they gazed upon the lights, making for a hauntingly beautiful experience.
The incredible displays inspired by the Impossible included a light display of images of impossible patterns projected onto the walls of Laidlaw Library, in honour of Yorkshire man David Smith who became the first person to solve the Einstein Problem, a pattern that never repeats itself. The display was led by MathsCity: Leeds’ own Mathematics Discovery Centre and the University of Leeds Maths Department and encouraged visitors to create their own impossible patterns inside the building.
A Celebration of Culture
Arguably the biggest and brightest display of the event: the Ubuntu collaboration between RJC Dance and Mango Arts AZUL carnival troupe, DJ Sensation and the School of Mechanical Engineering. The 10-minute performance every hour kick-started each night in a vibrant celebration of Afrofuturism, reminiscent of a carnival masquerade with bioluminescent-inspired costumes and a captivating soundtrack. The dancers were asked to create designs for ‘impossible’ costumes, which were then brought to life by Dr Briony Thomas from the University’s School of Mechanical Engineering, with the centrepiece Queen costume worn by renowned poet and multidisciplinary artist Khadijah Ibrahiim. Truly an incredible performance and a highlight of the night!
On behalf of The Gryphon, we would like to thank the University and the incredible Leeds Light Night team for creating such an immersive and interactive experience, and a special thanks to our guide Yasmeen Soudani for giving us a tour of the displays. We look forward to seeing the amazing collaborations and creations of Leeds Light Night 2025!
Words by Malak Hawashin, Aeryn Pettifor and Ansharah Shakil
