Luxmuralis – Autumn Cathedral Roadshow

Cathedrals will be transformed this autumn with a range of arts programming from the creative duo Luxmuralis.

Light and sound shows will transform our sacred spaces and involve the community in creating work together.

Artist Peter Walker’s Light of Hope star installation has gone on display in the nave of Exeter Cathedral and will be on show until January.

This 5-metre steel sculpture in the shape of a star is suspended with changing neon lights and was created for ‘The Light of Hope’ participation project during the Covid-19 pandemic when seven of our cathedrals (including Exeter), each sent beams of light up into the night sky as beacons of hope.

There are planned educational activities on the themes of light and hope running alongside the installation, with paper candle craft sessions later this month, and ‘shadow box’ workshops in the October half-term holiday.

Chichester Cathedral is hosting Peter Walker’s Peace Doves this autumn. This artwork which opens on 30 September is made up of fifteen thousand individually handmade paper doves which are suspended above the Cathedral’s nave. Each dove contains a message of peace, love and hope, written by over one hundred local community groups, organisations, schools and members of the public.

There is a programme of events for all ages that will run alongside this installation including weekly story-telling under the Doves for under fives, silent discos and special evening viewings, when visitors will be able to experience the installation by twilight.

Peace Doves 30th September – 12th November. Admission free. Donations welcome. 

The creative duo have created a new site-specific show for Gloucester Cathedral – Light Eternal: Yesterday, Today, Forever will take visitors on a journey that delves into the Cathedral’s 1000-year-long history, examines its architecture and stained glass, as well as its more recent life as a famous filming location. From scripture adorning the walls of the Cloister through to choral music sheets illuminating the Quire, there will be projections around every corner, accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack.

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester, said:

“I am delighted that Gloucester Cathedral will host the Light Eternal installation this October, and all are warmly invited to come and experience it. We hope that that the spectacular light projections and accompanying soundtrack will showcase the Cathedral’s mission as an enduring sacred space, reflecting the light and love of Christ to all people yesterday, today, and forever.”

Light Eternal runs 19 – 28 October. More here.

Southwell Minster has just hosted Luxmuralis’ Space Voyage which was originally postponed from the pandemic.

Canterbury Cathedral will host the light show,

 ‘Renaissance’ as the opening event of the Canterbury Festival from 26th – 30th September when visitors will be taken on a journey into the Renaissance world through the eyes of the artists and creatives of that time.   Click here for more info

Luxmuralis’ Science can be seen at Rochester Cathedral from 3-7 October and follows Luxmuralis’  sell-out shows Space Voyage’ and ‘Life’ at Rochester in 2021 and 2022.

Science then moves to Durham Cathedral from 11th – 15th October Click here for more info

There’s Renaissance at St Albans Cathedral from 24th – 28th October 2023 followed by  Force of Nature: The Elements at Bristol Cathedral from 30 October – 4 November.

Frances Rosewell, visitor experience director at Bristol Cathedral, said:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Luxmuralis team once again, to bring another spectacle to the Cathedral.

“The installation will entirely transform the space and will use every available inch of our home to create what will inevitably be a show-stopping experience for many.

“We hope that this installation will leave people feeling inspired, in touch with the world around them and inclined to revisit the Cathedral for more exciting projects in the future.”

There are Quiet Hour versions of this experience available. There will also be level access and a hearing loop.

Poppy Fields by Luxmuralis can be seen at Winchester Cathedral from 31 October – 4 November. Poppy Fields is a poignant light and sound show with artworks that reflect on the two world wars and looks ahead to peace in our time.

Accompanying the projections is specially composed music by David Harper and poetry recorded by Oscar-winning actor, Eddie Redmayne.

Poppy Fields has been on tour to other English Cathedrals including: Guildford, St Albans, Lichfield and Christ Church Oxford. Each time re-purposed for a unique experience in each setting. Winchester Cathedral will be collecting for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal during the event.

And tickets have just gone on sale at Salisbury Cathedral for Sarum Lights: Illuminating Art – a spectacular light and sound show created by Luxmuralis which explores art and social change from Baroque Art and the Protestant-Catholic conflicts of the 16^th century through to Art Deco and early 20th-century industrialisation and photography.

The installation includes an interactive display, Starry, Starry Night in the north transept that invites visitors to write and share their thoughts on star-shaped cards, a reference to Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

Luxmuralis’ Artistic Director Peter Walker said:

“Visitors can choose how they want to experience the exhibition, either basking in glorious images and sound or digging a little deeper and contemplating the big ideas that emerged after the Renaissance.

“All the paintings we know and love will be there, but there will also be areas that investigate what was happening when those pictures were created.”

Kenneth Padley, Canon Treasurer and chair of Salisbury Cathedral’s Arts Advisory Panel said:

“Cathedrals have always used art, light and sound to explore their ideas and values, so projections like this work really well in here, and the space itself adds another layer to the experience. The timing is particularly poignant too, with this show exploring significant ideas and movements as we move into Advent, the period in which we prepare for the coming of God’s light at Christmas.”

Sarum Lights: Illuminating Art opens on Tuesday 7 November and runs until Saturday 11 November.

Photo Credit : Peter Walker Sculptor and Luxmuralis, Light of Hope Star – Exeter Cathedral

Listen to Music Matters on Radio 3 from September 2023 where they talk about the Luxmuralis exhibition.