Lightwaves Salford 2023

Lightwaves Salford invites you to explore a trail of dramatic outdoor light art installations that animate and transform the urban waterside environment after dark around Salford Quays and MediaCity each winter.

Taking place from Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th December 2023, visitors of all ages can enjoy illuminated works from established as well as emerging artists, local and national, bringing a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful.

And as always Lightwaves is FREE – just turn up and enjoy!

This year Lightwaves will feature 15 artworks, three of which are brand new commissions by Quays Culture. Visitors can expect a variety of different works using light, sound and technology to create a mesmerizing experience. Some of the highlights will include:

See a whale shark diving in the waters of the Quays
A world-premiere, CETUS is a luminescent artwork taking the form of a 6-metre long whale shark. The life-like appearance is enhanced by transparent fish scales, creating a shimmering
effect as it swims through dark waters. CETUS has been commissioned by Lightwaves Salford from Loomaland – the Berlin-based artists who created CYGNUS, the flotilla of 12 floating swans that was popular at Lightwaves 2021.

Pulse is a large-scale, immersive installation which spans a 50 metre stretch of the MediaCity Piazza
Made up of huge mirrored rings, audiences can enjoy the multi-sensory experience of moving through the installation. Pulse is created by Loop, UK-based artists whose playful sculptures invite audiences to take part in thought-provoking audio visual journeys.

Play as a pollinating insect moving between giant glowing flowers.
On a more intimate scale, The Nectary is created by artist Alison Smith with Dr Chris Hassall and uses light and sound to envelop you in a multi-sensory experience. Six giant hanging blooms allow visitors to immerse themselves in nature and increase appreciation for delicate ecosystems that are so
crucial for our future.

Step into a garden of fire and roam among giant moving sculptures
Award-winning pioneers of outdoor art, Walk the Plank, return to Lightwaves Salford with a Fire Garden which includes three brand new giant sculptures – one over 9 metres in size. The Fire
Garden blends moving sculpture with fire and light to create an exhilarating spectacle that visitors of all ages will enjoy.

Lightwaves Festival is part of the Quays Culture Programme, a partnership initiative with a mission to animate public spaces, bringing extraordinary art into the heart of the community for everyone to experience free of charge.

See more of what’s on this winter at MediaCity here