Interactive light sculpture, Winchester Cathedral grounds, part of Winchester Light Art Project

Artist: Peter Freeman

Luminous Motion, Peter Freeman’s interactive light column for the grounds of Winchester Cathedral, is one of the first artworks in the country which relies on text messaging to influence its appearance. A tall column of stainless steel, pierced by small fibre optic lights, the sculpture changes colour according to text messages sent by members of the public.

Peter’s brief was to develop a light art project that celebrated Winchester and reflected routes and pathways through the city. The idea for Luminous Motion developed from his research visits, where he was impressed with the idea of Winchester ‘as a city situated at the convergence of pathways, and its rich history as a centre for spiritual and political power.’ He was also interested in the suggestion that the future for Winchester lay in making it a centre for virtual communications, and developed the idea of ‘using light and modern technology to explore ideas of pathways, movement and communication highways in the city.’ A further inspiration was the medieval Christian idea of the 'Axis Mundi', the pivot at the centre of the universe, and the symbolic thread that allows spiritual communication between heaven, earth and the underworld. Luminous Motion is sited at the spiritual centre of Winchester, in the Cathedral grounds.

Luminous Motion was the third is a series of light art commissions for Winchester, entitled Winchester Light Art Project. Previous commissions included a changing light work in the High Street by Ron Haselden and a webcam and website project by Pierre Vivant.

Commissioner

Winchester City Council

Partners

Hampshire County Council, the Chapter of Winchester Cathedral, sates.org.

Budget

£54,000

Funders

National Lottery through the Arts Council of England, Winchester City Council

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