The district King’s Cross in London, has unveiled Fluorescence by the award-winning British visual artist, Liz West. It is the latest artwork in its annual Granary Square winter installation series.
Enlarge
Photography by John Sturrock
Drawing inspiration from the light and joy that define the festive season, West reinterprets these themes through a contemporary, 10.7-metre sculpture that will become a focal point for visitors to King’s Cross from 13 November 2024 until February 2025.
The installation’s distinctive structure, an elongated tetrahedron, is adorned with bold stripes of fluorescent neon colors, contrasted
with monochromatic tones. The diagonal lines of color intersect across the sculpture, encouraging people to move around the space to explore how the colors connect and change from different angles – offering an experience that is dynamic and visually engaging in all conditions.
For the first time in her work, the artist has introduced black to sit alongside her signature chromatic palette.
West says: “Using black alongside the bright neon colors creates a striking contrast, adds depth to the piece, and allows the eyes a point of rest from the sparkling fluorescence. It’s a joyful artwork that shifts in character from day to night, particularly when the UV lights transform it after dark.”
As night falls, UV lighting makes the installation glow, turning it into a luminous centerpiece that can be seen from across Granary Square – a beacon of celebration and festive spirit to welcome in the winter season.
In her practice, West blurs the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, design and painting, creating playful and immersive environments. Her vivid installations mix luminous color and radiant light to provoke heightened sensory awareness, exploring how sensory phenomena can evoke psychological and physical responses. Institutions and organizations including London Design Festival, Natural History Museum, Paris Fashion Week, Color Factory Chicago, Hyvinkää Art Museum, Trapholt Museum for Modern Art and Design, National Science and Media Museum, Jodhpur Art Week, and National Trust have previously commissioned her. West’s immersive artwork, Our Colour Reflection opens 15 November in Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s historic Chapel.
Enlarge
Photography by John Sturrock
Serra Ataman, Director of Public Art at MTArt says: “Our personal color perception and memories play a crucial role in our well-being. Color also shapes the built environment by enhancing public spaces. Liz West expertly taps into this understanding through her work, using color to break down barriers in urban areas. Fluorescence, in particular, invites everyone who experiences it to connect with the emotional depth that color offers, bringing moments of joy and reflection to its surroundings.”
Fluorescence forms part of a series of winter installations and festive trees commissioned by King’s Cross as part of its ongoing commitment to art and culture in the neighborhood. Recent collaborations include Assemble Collective and Local Works Studio (Fleeting Forest, 2023); acclaimed artist, Liliane Lijn (Temenos, 2021, 2022, 2023 and returning to Lewis Cubitt Square for 2024); architect Sam Jacobs (Electric Nemeton Tree, 2020); David Batchelor (King’s Xmas 2019); and Tatham & O’Sullivan (2018).
Chrissy Cullen, Marketing and Communications Director at King’s Cross, added: “Liz West has created a joyous winter installation for King’s Cross this year which will act as a
beacon in the heart of the neighborhood; not only in the lead up to Christmas, but well into the New Year when we all need a bit of light
to see us through the dark months. We can’t wait to see Fluorescence in situ this winter.”
Enlarge
Photography by John Sturrock