Lovers of light

It's the  first night of Lumiere the London Festival of Light, happening in the West End and Kings Cross from today until Sunday and what a glorious thing it is.

I chose to hit it early, starting in Mayfair and traveling east to Regent Street then back to Green Park down Piccadilly.

My picture of the day is Bernd Spiecker's 'Lightbench' (a park bench made of light does what it says on the tin), alongside it in Grosvenor square is a pice by my old friend Ron Haselden. 'Brothers and Sisters' are whimsical line drawings in light, sitting in front of the US Embassy.

At the top of Regent Street I was transfixed by the climbing and jumping stick figures on the side of the Disigual shop. The sound that accompanied them reminded me of Space Invaders. The piece is called "Keyframes' by Groupe LAPS/THomas Veyssiere.

Another work that made its presence known though sound first was 'Elephantastic' by Top' la Design/Catherine Garret.

No light festival would be complete without one of Julian Opie's walking characters. 'Shaid Walking 2015' was on Broadwick Street.

Finally and most unexpected were the floating koi carp, dancing to music along Piccadilly. 'Les Lumineoles' by Porte par le vent gave me a smile that lasted all the way home on the Bakerloo Line.

Who ever thought of this to brighten up our dull January is a genius.


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