London’s annual contemporary arts festival will transform the capital on July 2nd and will include a meditation class staged below the famous Tower Bridge, it has been reported.
Each year, Art Night invites leading cultural institutions and curators to work on a specific area of London. This summer the event will include artists the Chapman Brothers who are set to transform an empty docklands warehouse into an after hours art exhibition that will include a new video installation.
Art enthusiasts will be able to spend the evening exploring the streets of London, which will be over-spilling with sculpture, performance art and various exciting installations.
According to the organisers, the event was inspired by the Nuit Blanche movement in Paris. It was established here in the UK only last year, when it revolutionised a number of office blocks, flats, public spaces and Tube platforms.
This year, transformations can be found at a non-functioning building on London Dock and Exchange Square in Broadgate for a public dance led by artist Melanie Manchot. It will focus on the East End in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery.
Art Night 2017 is supported by Arts Council England, international auction house PHILLIPS and a number of partners and foundations.
Iwona Blazwick, director of Whitechapel Gallery commented: “As an institution which prides itself as bringing great art to the people of East London for over a century, we are delighted to be working with Art Night, a festival which brings art and heritage to life for one special summer night.
“It is a project that enables us to engage even further with our diverse audiences and local heritage, and to offer artists the opportunity to create engaging works of art outside of the confines of the gallery walls. We are excited to invite everyone on a journey to rediscover the city out of hours and through art.”
Art installations will also take place at a Grade II listed Masonic temple. The Andaz Hotel near Liverpool Street station will showcase a video installation by artist Lindsay Seers, and artist Ian Whittlesea will host a meditation session at the Bascule Chamber inside Tower Bridge.
There will be event staff dotted around the Art Night buildings, helping visitors navigate from location to location.
Justine Simons OBE, deputy mayor of culture and creative industries, believes that the event is a brilliant way to experience the city after hours.
“Art Night will bring major international artists to London’s East End, opening up incredible spaces to the public, and see them create new work inspired by the history of the area and its changing identity,” she explained.