Thousands turn out to see world-class art installations illuminate Aberdeen

Aberdeen city centre became a playground full of swirling lights, playful art, ghostly illuminations and magical exhibitions of digital art.

SPECTRA – Aberdeen’s Festival of Lights – was in full swing last night as friends and families braved the cold weather to the experience stunning visuals and play with the more creative digital pieces.

Large queues formed at the main entrance to Union Terrace Gardens from Denburn Viaduct as crowds waited for a live performance to officially open the festival.

Dance group Inverted Aberdeen gave an acrobatic dance using LED hula-hoops and lights in The Pool, a digital light installation which residents people were then able to hop, skip and jump around.

The show marked the beginning of the 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 were 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: “It was truly fantastic to see the thousands of visitors at Union Terrace Gardens, using the space in such a fun and creative way.

“This is a world-class event which provides the city with something totally cutting edge and I’m confident the numbers will continue to grow over the weekend.

“I urge all of our residents to wrap up, come out and enjoy the amazing, world-class light installations on your doorstep.”

For the first time, the event was on multiple sites, including its original home in Union Terrace Gardens, St Nicholas Kirkyard, Marischal College and art studio Seventeen on Belmont Street. Attendance across all four sites on the first night was up to 3,900 people.

At Marischal College, clusters of people were awed by the impressive 3D projection mapping by Double Take Projections. The shifting shapes, colours and figures running across the entirety of Mitchell Hall told the stories of some of Aberdeen’s most noted historical scientists.

At St Nicholas Kirkyard, crowds were mesmerised by the futuristic light sculpture, Light Wave Power by Paul Firedlander, which displays rapid movements of light and kinetic energy which furiously changes colour.

On the entering the Kirkyard from Union Street, set in the 900 year-old burial ground, visitors were immersed in eerie lights surrounded by smoke.

As well as The Pool, which had hundreds of children hopping and jumping around on the lighted pads, Water Light Graffiti at Union Terrace Gardens had the audience’s creating graffiti with water pistols, paintbrushes, water spray, their 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, 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.”

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