Talk by Artist Leo Villareal

The Illuminated River Foundation presents a talk by Leo Villareal celebrating the completion of the first phase of Illuminated River - an ambitious public art commission which is transforming the capital at night, lighting up to 14 bridges on the River Thames. The first four bridges: London, Cannon Street, Southwark and Millennium, were illuminated in July 2019. Once complete, Illuminated River will span from Albert Bridge to Tower Bridge, making it the longest public artwork in the world, seen over 130 million times each year.

Following a special introduction by the Dean of Southwark Cathedral, Andrew Nunn, who blessed the Illuminated River project in July 2019, Leo Villareal will discuss the artistic inspiration behind the recently completed bridges and share plans for the next phase of the project and its intended legacy for London.

Address: Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London, SE1 9DA

Time: 7.00-8.30pm

Tour & Artist Talk

There are a limited number of tickets available for a guided walk of the first four bridges - London, Cannon Street, Southwark and Millennium - led by key members of the Illuminated River Project Team. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the project in situ through the expertise of the architects and lighting designers who have helped deliver this major artwork for London.

The tour will finish at Southwark Cathedral in advance of the talk by Leo Villareal.

Meeting point to be confirmed via email for all 'Tour & Talk' ticket holders.

Time of Tour: 6.00-7.00pm

Tickets

Artist Talk Standard Ticket: £10

Artist Talk Concession (Student / Unwaged / Under 18 / Disabled): £5

Tour & Artist Talk Standard Ticket: £12

Tour & Artist Talk Concession (Student / Unwaged / Under 18): £7

**The talk at Southwark Cathedral is wheelchair accessible**

If you require wheelchair access, please consult the Southwark Cathedral Website: https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/accessibility/

About the Illuminated River project

Conceived by internationally-acclaimed artist Leo Villareal and British architectural practice Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, and delivered by the Illuminated River Foundation, the artwork has been sensitively developed, paying attention to heritage, wildlife and the built environment to create something exceptional – a transformation that celebrates the role that the Thames bridges play in the enduring global identity of London and encourages people to enjoy the river and riverside at night.

Villareal joins a long tradition of artists who have been inspired by the Thames. Working with cutting edge LED technology to ‘paint with light’, Villareal produces sequenced patterns that subtly unfold across the Thames bridge structures. He engages with the site of each bridge, respecting and revealing their unique architectural features and historic identities, while referencing the river as a continuous living system. Villareal's past projects include The Bay Lights on San Francisco’s Oakland Bay Bridge and Multiverse at Washington’s National Gallery of Art.

Illuminated River's smart LED technologies provide a more long-term sustainable solution for lighting the Thames at night. By replacing inefficient metal halides and flourescents with the latest LEDs the project aims to reduce energy-consumption by up to 50% on some of the major bridges. All lighting on the bridges will be switched off at 2am rather than running from dusk until dawn, as the previous lighting did. This is an encouragement for others to do the same and to protect the darkness that is fundamental to the Thames.

For further details, please visit https://illuminatedriver.london/