As you will see from our photos there is something afoot in St Andrew Square….
An enchanting, contemporary light-based art installation that has captured the imaginations of thousands of people across the world will make its first appearance in Scotland early next week.
Field of Light, by British artist Bruce Munro, will be exhibited within St Andrew Square, Edinburgh from 3 February to 27 April 2014.
9,500 lighted glass spheres will rise from the ground on slender stems to create a natural and otherworldly effect through the volume of spheres, the glow of the lights and gentle shapes. The piece has been conceived to create an immersive experience, inviting people to wander through St Andrew Square along the existing pathways and view the space in a new way.
The Field of Light, created specifically for St Andrew Square, is the first time the piece has been exhibited within an urban landscape and the exhibition will be his Scottish debut.
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, said: “Field of Light has attracted rave reviews across the globe and I can think of no better backdrop for its latest installation than here in Scotland’s beautiful capital city.
“St Andrew Square will be at the heart of Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations this year and I am delighted that, through the addition of this spectacular piece of art, the gardens will continue to be a major draw for residents and visitors well into 2014.”
Bruce Munro is best known for immersive large-scale mixed-media installations based on his interest in the medium of light. Recording ideas and images in sketchbooks has been his practice for over 30 years; by this means he has captured his responses to stimuli such as music, literature, science, and the world around him for reference, reflection, and subject matter. This tendency has been combined with a liking for components and an inventive urge for reuse, coupled with career training in manufacture of light.
Of the opportunity to present his artwork within Edinburgh, Munro said: “The Field of Light is a bit of a chameleon in that the space changes the work more than the work changes the space. This is an added bonus for me because each new iteration we create delivers new surprises and gives one the distinct feeling that there is life force pulsating within the installation.
“I first had the notion of creating the installation in 1992, whilst travelling through central Australia, the inspiration came from the landscape; it seemed to pulsate from the ground into my consciousness, materialising as a scribbled in my notebook.”
The exhibition, which is free to view, is being funded by the City of Edinburgh Council with support from Marketing Edinburgh and Essential Edinburgh.
John Donnelly, Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh, said: “This is such a striking and unusual exhibition, a real coup for Edinburgh. Having Field of Light slap-bang in the city-centre will look absolutely spectacular and we’re sure it will attract visitors from far and wide.”
Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to support a project that promises to be a stunning addition to the city centre’s already fantastic winter and spring offering. The Field of Light is something that will draw and delight local people and visitors alike, and add to the ambience of the city centre well into the New Year.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
