Located outside Principal Place and Citypoint, respectively, “Glow” and “Trumpet Flowers” are designed to transform the plazas into a stage for light and sound, allowing office workers and passersby to experience an interactive and playful light show.
Both installations are available for public viewing from 14th October to 6th January. The installations are designed by Sydney-based artist studio, Amigo & Amigo, which specialises in creating dynamic, experiential public artworks.
Audience participation is a key element of both installations, as viewers can influence the light and sound emitted by interacting with the artworks. This year’s winter light installations are the latest example of Brookfield Properties’ ongoing investment into arts and culture programming in the City of London, which includes publicly accessible exhibitions and live performances across the ground floors and plazas of its buildings. Offering a curated series of events and exhibitions, Brookfield Properties’ free-to-access Activated programme aims to improve wellbeing and tenant and community engagement.
Inspired by gramophones, “Trumpet Flowers” at Citypoint is a sculptural collage of giant trumpet-shaped lights that viewers can walk through, with some light structures measuring over 2 metres tall. An original jazz composition by the Sydney-based Otis Studio accompanies the installation. The music conveys the vibrant energy of a live performance which resonates across the installation, featuring tubas, trumpets, trombones, and drums, which resonates across the installation.
Viewers also have the opportunity to “play” the trumpets themselves. Each light is accompanied by a button that allows members of the audience to produce and experiment with the sounds of the different instruments.
Also focussed on interaction, “Glow” at Principal Place appears like a series of spherical light posts. However, each post is touch sensitive and, when pressed, plays a unique sound, making the sculpture into a large instrument. With over 40 different musical sounds available and interactive lighting animations to accompany them, the audience can create their own composition. The artwork lights up and animates every five minutes to produce a unique lighting composition and musical track.
Saff Williams, Curatorial Director at Brookfield Properties, said: “‘Trumpet Flowers’ and ‘Glow’ are the perfect antidote to the winter blues. These installations are designed to be interactive, transforming how we experience the City. They bring vibrant colour and harmony to our public spaces and invite viewers to pause, reflect, and engage with the city in new and exciting ways. Accessible public art is a vital means of fostering creativity and community engagement. As the days get shorter, these playful installations offer just the right touch of joy and inspiration. Come and experience them for yourself!”
Simone Chua, Director at Amigo & Amigo, said: “We are thrilled to debut ‘Trumpet Flowers’ and ‘Glow’ in the heart of London. Both pieces celebrate the power of community, music, and art. Nature and music are constant inspirations for us, and through these installations, we hope to bring people together, fostering connection and joy in public spaces. It is our passion to create works that reclaim these urban environments and offer moments of delight to all who experience them.”