The second phase of the 'Illuminated River' project will launch this Spring to illuminate five Central London bridges (Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster, Golden Jubilee Footbridges and Lambeth), in addition to the four bridges illuminated in 2019 (London, Cannon Street Railway, Southwark and Millennium).
Conceived by American artist Leo Villareal in collaboration with London-based architecture practice, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, each of the five bridges will be illuminated with a site-specific light artwork that has been sensitively developed, paying attention to heritage, wildlife, and the built environment to create something exceptional.
The installations will transform the river by night, celebrating and highlighting the important role that the London bridges continue to play on the capital's global identity and the important artery routes that link both parts of London.
The lighting will be on every night from just before dusk until 2 am, with every single bridge having a different algorithm designed to never repeat.
The Illuminated River public art commission will be in place for ten years, and once complete, will be the longest public art commission in the world.
Image: Leo Villareal Studio