Clusters of giant iridescent bubbles have landed in London, bringing joy, colour, and light to some of the darker months of the year. Evanescent is a free, outdoor sound and light installation which comes to London for the first time, having premiered in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia in 2021.
Evanescent is created by Atelier Sisu, a Sydney-based design studio led by award-winning artists Renzo B. Larriviere and Zara Pasfield, who work within the intersection of art and architecture creating large-scale site-specific works that enchant by reinventing spaces.
Evanescent means the quality of being fleeting or vanishing quickly: impermanence. This immersive environment aims to capture that concept visually: the bubble. The shimmering inflatable domes will be gathered in clusters of four, reaching 7.5m high, and positioned in the west area of the public realm beneath The Leadenhall Building inviting audiences to move under and around them. The bubbles are made from a colour-reflecting dichroic film that reacts to the sun’s changing light as it moves across the sky, causing a rainbow of reflection across the ground and a unique picture from every angle. With the striking backdrop of this dominant City landmark – nicknamed ‘The Cheesegrater’ – the installation will encourage the public to see their city in a new light.
With its bright colours and striking appearance, Evanescent aims to draw visitors to the Leadenhall Building to fight the post-holiday blues, socialise in the City and support Londoners and visitors to the
area as the cold weather and cost of living crisis starts to bite.
Evanescent is commissioned by the Eastern City Business Improvement District (EC BID) and delivered by FESTIVAL.ORG, whose production credits include Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, with the kind support of the City of London Corporation and the Leadenhall Building. The installation is part of RECHARGE, a campaign launched by EC BID in early January 2023, to support the mental health and wellbeing of workers and visitors to the area, and drive footfall to local businesses struggling during a quieter than usual January. Throughout January and February, the EC BID will be hosting workshops, events and other activities to help people ‘recharge’ as 2023 gets going.
Visit: EC BID website for full details.
Evanescent, from Atelier Sisu, 16th January – 10th February 2023, 12:00 – 22:00 daily at The Leadenhall Building (west side), 122 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4AB, UK FREE, no booking necessary & open to all
Accessibility: Suitable for all, no age or ability restrictions. An audio description is available for blind and visually impaired audiences. ecbid.co.uk/recharge
About Atelier Sisu
Atelier Sisu is an award-winning Sydney-based art practice, led by Peruvian sculptor and industrial designer Renzo B. Larriviere and spatial architect and artist Zara Pasfield. The pair work with a multi-disciplinary team to create experiential environments, installations and unique sculptural pieces. Their direction of work sits between the fields of art and architecture (art-chitecture), with a particular focus on
the realm of public art. Each public artwork aims to provide a unique spatial experience for its visitors, while also contributing to the visual identity of a place and promoting community interaction.
ateliersisu.com
