Light Show

Since the 1960s an increasing number of artists around the world have been exploring artificial light as an artistic medium. Light Show brought together sculptures and installations that used artificial light to transform space and to influence and alter perception.

Curated by Dr Cliff Lauson, the exhibition explored how we experience and respond to illumination and colour. Many of the works drew attention to the fact that vision is the least reliable of the senses. What we see, or think we see, is not always how things are.

Making use of materials ranging from off-the-shelf fixtures to computer-controlled lighting, the works in this exhibition stimulated many different – and often surprising – responses.

Since it opened at Hayward Gallery in 2013 – where it attracted over 190,000 visitors over three months – Light Show has toured to galleries in New Zealand, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Chile.

Installation plan for Light Show.

Preparatory sketch for Ivan Navarro's Hayward Fence (2013).

Preparatory sketch for Nancy Holt's Holes of Light (1973)

Nancy Holt's Holes of Light (1973) being installed in Hayward Gallery.

Poster for Light Show with extended opening hours.

Light Show private view invitation.

A wide-ranging programme of events took place alongside Light Show. For 'Poets After Dark' ten poets commissioned to write poems in response to the exhibition performed their works at an after-hours event at the gallery.

During the event 'Harmonic Series at Light Show', musicians Juliet Fraser, Oliver Coates and Peyee Chen performed music by experimental composers.

Visitors queuing for Light Show.