NOOR RIYADH RETURNS FOR 2023
The largest light festival in the world opens in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for its third edition today.
Across five main hubs across the capital, more than 120 large-scale art installations, building projections, performances and artworks will light up the city as part of Noor Riyadh 2023.
Titled The Bright Side of the Desert Moon, the selection includes prominent pieces by Bruno Ribeiro, Christopher Bauder, Zahra Al-Ghamdi, Janet Echelman, Ivan Argote and Loughran Gallery artist Chris Levine.
MOLECULE OF LIGHT IS BACK
Levine’s larger-than-life Molecule of Light sculpture has transferred to the desert after being exhibited at Houghton Hall. After two false starts – it was heading to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg before war broke out and a now-delayed museum in Spain – its beams can be seen for miles around in Riyadh until December 16.
By incorporating a transducer sound beam speaker system and a site-specific laser program that interacts with the desert’s open space topography, Levine hopes to guide visitors into a transient meditative state through the interplay of solfeggio sound and the pure frequencies of laser light.
Levine says: “Let’s free the beams over the city. What a thrill it’s been to bring my work to the desert. I have a feeling this is the start of a new chapter of exciting work – I’m so inspired.”
