Category: city centre

Stick figures run riot in St Andrew Square!

St Andrew Square invaded by stick people

One of Edinburgh’s iconic gardens has been invaded by nocturnal stick-figures as part of an art installation commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council.

KEYFRAMES is a highlight of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and has been delivered by producers Curated Place with French artists Groupe LAPS.

The playful stick-figure light sculptures will be exhibited until 28 March 2016 in St Andrew Square. Each sculpture has been designed to create an illusion of stop-motion movement as they shine in sequence to a series of sound effects every evening.

Llloyd Smith

Speaking about the opportunity to present the artwork within Edinburgh, Thomas Veyssiere from Groupe LAPS said: “The most exciting thing about installing KEYFRAMES in St Andrew Square is that it is a long and immersive form. Our lighting puppets will inhabit the square for two months.

“Rather than offering one point of view, visitors who walk through the Square will discover the figures undertaking different activities, be it climbing a tree, throwing a Frisbee or having a snooze. Sound will envelop the whole area and entice visitors to get closer to the installation.”

Llloyd Smith

Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Events Champion, said: “Public art by day, lightshow by night, KEYFRAMES is something completely different for Edinburgh. It’s fantastic to bring international cultural events to the city. This project has been tailored by the French artists to suit the Square and celebrate elements of Scottish culture, from the sound of the bagpipes to our national love of football. I’m sure it will drive footfall as it brightens up the city centre with its playful stick-figure sculptures. You can’t miss it.”

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is now underway and we have an exciting array of events planned to showcase Scotland’s spirit of invention and creativity. KEYFRAMES is a fantastic example of what will be on offer during the year. The installation will bring a busy part of our nation’s capital to life and, as a free event, gives everyone the opportunity to participate and experience the architecture and environment of St Andrew Square in a new and different light.”

Llloyd Smith

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, added: “We are delighted to support a project in St Andrew Square that is such a stunning addition to the city centre. KEYFRAMES is something that will draw and delight local people and visitors alike, and add to the ambience of the city centre well into spring.”

This is the first time KEYFRAMES will be exhibited in Scotland following a UK debut in Durham at the 2013 Lumiere Festival. It has delighted thousands of people across the world from Singapore to Jerusalem, France, Spain and the Netherlands.

The exhibition, which is free to view, is being funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and EventScotland with the support of Marketing Edinburgh and Essential Edinburgh.

Llloyd Smith

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Pictures: CEC

Video: Lloyd Smith

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Stick figures to light up St Andrew Square

City ‘sticks’ with Spring art events

key_frames_singapore1

An invasion of stop-motion stick-figures will create a spectacle of light when a major art installation makes its first appearance in Scotland next month.

KEYFRAMES, delivered by Curated Place with French artists collective Groupe LAPS, has been named a key event in the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. It will be exhibited within Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square from 4 February to 28 March.

The 80 light sculptures will shine in sequence to an original musical composition to create the illusion of movement. The installation, which has been conceived to create an immersive experience, will invite people to wander through St Andrew Square to experience the space from different angles and in a new light.

This is the first time KEYFRAMES will be exhibited in Scotland following a UK debut in Durham at the 2013 Lumiere Festival. It has delighted thousands of people across the world from Singapore to Jerusalem, France, Spain and the Netherlands.

The exhibition, which is free, is being funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and EventScotland with the support of Marketing Edinburgh and Essential Edinburgh.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, said: “When KEYFRAMES opens next month, the experience of wandering through St Andrew Square will be like entering an enchanting stop-motion animation.

“This is public art which can be enjoyed by all ages and the impressive display will illuminate the night sky. It will bring the city centre to life during the transition from winter into spring and, going by the success of 2014’s Field of Light and last year’s Light Fantastic project,  I’m sure it will draw an impressive footfall and support our city’s evening economy.”

Groupe LAPS is best known for animating public spaces, marrying art with technology by pooling light, sound, and multimedia to create public art.

Speaking about the opportunity to present the artwork within Edinburgh, Thomas Veyssiere from Groupe LAPS said: “The most exciting thing about installing KEYFRAMES in St Andrew Square is that it will be a long and immersive form. Our lighting puppets will inhabit the square for two months. Rather than offering one point of view, visitors who walk through the Square will naturally discover different actions and see and hear funny things. Sound will envelop the whole area and entice visitors to get closer to the installation.”

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is now underway and we have an exciting array of events planned to showcase Scotland’s spirit of invention and creativity.

“KEYFRAMES is a fantastic example of what will be on offer during the year. The installation will bring a busy part of our nation’s capital to life and, as a free event, gives everyone the opportunity to participate and experience the architecture and environment of St Andrew Square in a new and different light.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, added: “We are delighted to support a project in St Andrew Square that promises to be a stunning addition to the city centre. KEYFRAMES is something that will draw and delight local people and visitors alike, and add to the ambience of the city centre well into the New Year.”

This will be the third consecutive year the city council has lit St Andrew Square in spring. Bruce Munro’s Field of Light saw the gardens transformed into a field of swaying, colourful spheres in 2014.

Then, in 2015 – after six weeks and over a thousand tweets to change the colour of the Melville Monument -, Edinburgh’s interactive Light Fantastic installation in St Andrew Square glared red on its final night in support of Nepal.

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Remembering Greyfriars Bobby

bobby

A special party was thrown yesterday to celebrate the much-loved life of Edinburgh’s most famous little dog. Pupils laid flowers to the skirl of bagpipes at the grave of loyal terrier Greyfriars Bobby, who died 144 years ago on 14 January 1872.

Bobby is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard and his death is commemorated with a special ceremony every year on the anniversary of his death.

Amongst the participants was a Greyfriars Bobby look-alike, Bobby the Cairn terrier, sporting a specially-designed coat and badge in honour of her double.

As the one o’clock gun sounded, the time at which Bobby is said to have left his master’s grave each day for a free meal at a nearby café, pupils from George Heriot School laid flowers on the grave. This was followed by ‘Tribute to Greyfriars Bobby’, played on bagpipes by Jennifer Hutcheon.

Abbeyhill Primary School pupils were also in Central Library for a historical story time session about Greyfriars Bobby, joined by Moira and her Skye Terrier Hannah from the Skye Terriers club.

Donald Wilson, Lord Provost, who attended the event, said: “Today’s service was a very fitting tribute to one of Edinburgh’s most famous figures. Greyfriars Bobby truly is a world-famous pet, and his statue and grave are well established parts of the tourist trail.

“Everyone knows and loves the story of his loyalty, and it’s so nice to be part of this special commemoration. Anyone interested in finding out more about Bobby can browse the memorabilia on display just now at the Museum of Edinburgh.”

After the death of Bobby’s owner John Gray, the then Lord Provost, Sir William Chambers, ensured the dog’s freedom by purchasing a license and dog collar, allowing him to roam the graveyard.

Capturing the hearts of passers-by every day, Bobby’s statue was erected a year after his death in 1872 by the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, and has since become a landmark for the capital, visited by millions of people.

Yesterday’s event was supported by local charity The Grassmarket Community Project.