Kew the lights...
CHRISTMAS at Kew has returned, inviting visitors to experience the night-time beauty of a brand new trail, illuminated by more than one million lights.
The route includes some incredible showstoppers, such as the recently restored Temperate House – the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world – which forms the canvas for a kaleidoscopic laser show.
A roster of internationally acclaimed artists adorns this newly plotted trail with a feast of art, light and music at every turn.
French creative Studio Pitaya has brought Bifröst to Christmas at Kew, drawing inspiration from the bridge of light in Norse mythology, connecting the realm of the living and the realm of gods.
Set at the beginning of the trail, visitors can wander through a tunnel of 20 light arcades, the hypnotic animations bringing them through to the magical landscape beyond.
Also inspired by folklore and legend, Australian studio Mandylights returns to Christmas at Kew with Will o’ the Wisps, also known as ‘fairy fire’ by Welsh travellers, ‘aleya’ by Bengali fishermen, ‘luces del tesoro’ in Mexico and in Australia as the ‘Min Min light.’
The installation sees 6,000 pixel mapped ‘wisp’ forms perform in different ways to reflect their diverse origins – from devilish displays of red mischief, to soft glowing orbs, to explosions of vibrant colour.
Further along the route, visitors can meander through a Fire Garden with enchanted ruby and emerald flames, as pyrotechnic artist Mike Jones brings his spellbinding work to Kew.
The centrepiece of this year’s event, Brighton-based ITHACA has brought Waterfalls to Kew’s arboretum.
With four spiralling columns of light cascading from the Treetop Walkway in the canopy above, the mesmerising 10 minute display captivates visitors with dazzling reflections and a ‘Sea of Light’ at their feet.
In another mirroring of nature, Australian studio Mandylights brings Vines to the trail.
A 30-metre-long promenade of LED vines that visitors can walk through, touch and interact with, each vine houses up to 8,000 individual colour-changing pixels, making for an otherworldly immersive experience.
Throughout the trail, Kew’s own natural splendours feature prominently, highlighting the beauty of nature and the importance of plants.
Trees along the route are illuminated from different angles, allowing visitors to admire their striking winter forms.
Branches are wrapped with tiny blossom shaped lights to create a sparkling cherry tree walkway and the Kew Horticulture team’s pea-light-festooned heritage tree returns in all its luminous glory.
At the final stop, the renowned Palm House finale awaits visitors with festive projections playing across a giant screen of water in the centre of the lake, and across the iconic glasshouse itself.
Visitors will find Santa and his helpers on the Temperate House steps entertaining youngsters with ‘The Temperate House Lullaby,’ and a mini fairground complete with a helter-skelter.
The recently opened Pavilion Bar and Grill is open for dining and the Botanical restaurant will be serving a special Christmas Dinner, which visitors can pre-book when purchasing tickets.
For information about tickets and opening times, go to www.kew.org/kew-gardens.