SPECTRA – Aberdeen’s Festival of Lights – goes live today. (Feb 11)
Social enterprise dance group, Inverted Aberdeen, have been given the job of launching the event with a live performance at Union Terrace Gardens.
The show will begin at 6.30pm marking the beginning of a four-day festival which brings together work from some of the world’s best-known national and international audio visual artists.
Many of the 20 original works have been created by artists who are showing in Scotland for the first time in celebration of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
Deputy Leader of Aberdeen City Council Councillor Marie Boulton said: “This is a world-class event which provides the city with something totally cutting edge, both artistically and from a technological stand point.
“It also puts Aberdeen on the map as a cultural capital. Events likes SPECTRA can become a driver for both economic and social change and play a significant role in the city’s artistic evolution.
“This is an event the citizens of Aberdeen can be truly proud of and will draw thousands of people. The response already on social media has been magnificent.”
For the first time, the event will be held on multiple sites, including its original home in Union Terrace Gardens, St Nicholas Kirkyard, Marischal College and the art studio 17 in Belmont Street.
Event organisers, Aberdeen City Council and Curated Place, have already begun testing some of the key features for the festival, including a striking new projection artwork commissioned specifically for SPECTRA 2016 which will light up Mitchell Hall at Marischal College.
Created by Scottish-based Mapping specialists, Double Take Projections, the images will feature the latest innovative research from the University of Aberdeen as well as images of historic contributions to design, science and society uncovered from Aberdeen archives.
An original composition “Digital Dust” performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra from composer Jack White will also feature. Double Take Projections has previously showcased their work at T in the Park in Perth and at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
And St Nicholas Kirkyard Light Wave Power is a futuristic light sculpture with an overhead kinetic wave display, which allows visitors to walk underneath. The waves continuously change shape and colour.
Water Light Graffiti at Union Terrace Gardens allows the audience to create graffiti with a water pistol, a paintbrush, a water spray, your fingers or anything damp.
Creator Antonin Fourneau has received global acclaim for his interactive piece and has previously showcased in places such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and Japan.
Inverted Aberdeen, who will launch the event, is a new fitness and circus skills group which provides support for people struggling with mental health, alcohol and social issues in Aberdeen.
The event is supported by Event Scotland and forms part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “With Scotland’s 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, we have the opportunity to put Scotland on the map in a new and exciting way, positioning the country as a mix of traditional and cutting-edge at the same time.
“SPECTRA will shine a spotlight on a number of iconic locations from the imposing Marischal College to the historic St Nicholas Kirkyard, offering both locals and visitors a chance to see Aberdeen’s beautiful architecture, whilst celebrating its creative past, present and future.”