For not only has Hampshire’s largest festive light trail been completely reimagined this year, with a new route and new themed zones, but it is delighted to welcome back one of its most popular light artists alongside the first installations from some of the rising stars of British light art.
“There are more lights than ever and our new trail will take visitors on a different journey through the Gardens with more immersive moments and even more enchanting installations,” say Light Up Trails’ co-directors Libby Battaglia and Lucinda Croft.
And at the heart of the all-new route is the return of visionary Belgian light artist Bobolito&Co with the latest version of the world famous Rhizome installation, a stunning, immersive light and sound sculpture inspired by the tangled beauty of nature and the invisible threads that connect us all.
“The idea is that it really comes to life at night and feels like you’re seeing these hidden plant networks made visible in a really magical way,” they say.
“It has evolved in a really fresh way at Hillier Gardens. We’ve added mirrors into the installation, so you get these extra layers of reflection and shadow. It’s like a celebratory edition that brings even more vibrancy and depth.
“In my personal life, I’m a really enthusiastic gardener – I grow everything from potatoes and tomatoes, to pumpkins and squash. So being able to install Rhizome in a botanical garden is just perfect.”
Having won Gold in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category at the prestigious Beautiful South Tourism Awards, Light Up Sir Harold Hiller Gardens opens on Thursday 27 November showcasing some of the UK’s most important plant and tree collections by night.
It’s a prospect that attracted the Light Up Trails debut of Bright Side Studios, the highly creative, Edinburgh-based production studio specialising in immersive design and projection mapping. Their installation, Seasons Of Light, connects the art directly to Sir Harold Hillier Gardens by choreographing an immersive journey of wonder through the seasons of the year.
“We create illusionary animations within an environment so what the audience will see are the flowers and animals brought into the gardens suspended in the space,” says Cristina Spiteri of Bright Side Studios.
“The magic is built up with a mixture of animation, 3D and filmic effects layered up, so the light and the animals guide us through the seasons from Spring up to Christmas.”
The animation is projected onto a giant scrim screen with the tree line behind lit to create a holographic effect and Bright Side have worked with Light Up Trails’ in-house designer James Smith to co-ordinate lights, snow machines, and special effects in a stunningly orchestrated display of light, movement and sound.
“Bright Side Studios bring a fresh perspective and uniquely creative innovation – we’re so really excited to be working with them,” say co-directors Libby Battaglia and Lucinda Croft.
“Seasons of Light will be a genuinely breathtaking shared moment for our visitors to complete the physical and emotional journey through this year’s Light Up Sir Harold Hiller Gardens.
“It’s the ideal ending for this year’s new trail and updated themes.”
Last year’s star turn, the thrilling Super Peak Nights, are back with twice as many performers and double the magic. This year, the amazing stars of Steamship Circus will be wearing costumes designed especially for Light Up Trails and visitors will meet the Ice Fairies and Featherlight characters drifting through the trees; the surreal Mirror Ball Head performers with their incredible illuminated headgear; the Flower Fairies and giant blooms that burst into colourful life; and the breathtaking fire performers.
“The effect will be fantastic,” add Libby and Lucinda. “It will transform Hillier Gardens into a living fantasy that’s part light trail, part theatre… and wholly unforgettable!”
The all-new Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is open from Thursday 27 November until Saturday 3 January with tickets available now at www.lightuptrails.com.
