For this festival of light, you are part of the art

ARTWORKS will be lighting up the night in the city centre from this week.

Light Up Leicester runs from Thursday to Sunday, March 8.

Seven large-scale installations will interact with people through sound or sensors, reacting to light, temperature or humidity levels, or responding to data online.

Three pieces have been specially commissioned for the festival.

All can be experienced between 5pm and 10pm each night. They are:

Unexpected Connection, by Eccentric Events, Jubilee Square

An interactive LED tunnel, using pressure sensors, programmable lighting and smartglass to unexpectedly bring people together.

Wave-Field, by Lateral Office, Humberstone Gate

When set in motion, the seesaws burst into sound and light, which becomes richer as more visitors partner up.

Shoefiti by Deepa Mann-Kler, Silver Street

A twist on an urban mystery – the global phenomenon of shoe tossing. Deepa’s dangling LED trainers shine a light on a “curious act of urban rebellion”.

Youth Culture by Stanza, Orton Square

A 3m-tall sculpture of a hooded youth that visualises data and reflects audience interaction using cameras, screens and technology built into the sculpture.

Wave, by Squidsoup, St Peter’s Square

This features 500 points of light and 500 voices, interconnected using Internet of Things technology and acting in harmony to create a series of immersive environments.

Traces by Mateus Domingos, Leicester Market

Traces is a matrix of lights suspended in the air. Through motion sensors, the piece will capture the hustle and bustle of the market by day, and play this back to audiences at night.

The central space will trace the motion of festival visitors who will see their movement pulsing into the field of lights.

Shadowdance, by Impossible Arts, Green Dragon Square

Shadowdance invites you to pose and cut interesting shapes as the installation blends colour and light on the walls of Green Dragon Square.

As part of Light Up Leicester, there will also be a Connectedness Cafe on Saturday, March 7, in Bean Gaming Cafe in Silver Street.

Artist and technologist Dr Sean Clark will explain about the technologies that make interactive artwork possible.

People can drop in between 11am and 5pm to see work made by children and digital artists, and create their own LED light to take away.