Chorus
United Visual Artists, Mira Calix
6.30pm – 10.30pm (last admission 10.15pm) | Cathedral Nave
Photo © United Visual Artists
Imagine the Cathedral at night, only moonlight penetrating the inky darkness. Eight huge pendulums are suspended in the vaulted ceiling,. Arcs of light hypnotise and mesmerise the viewer as the rhythm of the pendulums shift between harmony and phasing. The swinging movement controls and transforms the relationship between sound and sight, the experience changing as the viewer moves around the space below.
Chorus is a breathtakingly atmospheric piece, the work of one of the most innovative and interesting lighting companies around, the 14-person collective United Visual Artists. UVA has won contracts all over the world, and recently received a new commission for the Royal Academy. This project was created in collaboration with the composer Mira Calix.
Quote
“Beautiful, a feast for the senses. Standing underneath the speakers was the best as the sound flowed back and forth. Well worth the coach fare!”
Audience member, Leeds
Your Comments
This looks really pretty :o) I hope I can go this year.
Rachel | 15 February 2010 | Gateshead
Looks great, I never saw this but I did see the bridge all lit up on my way home from work. Really nice, hope they do it again this year!
Simon | 15 February 2010 | Newcastle
This looks really nice, wish I had been tehre to see it.
Jeff | 15 February 2010 | uk
Artist
Artist
United Visual Artists
United Visual Artists are a British team who create both permanent and temporary installations as well as live performances. They constantly explore new ideas and push the boundaries of established fields. Their installations include Volume at the V&A Museum, Contact at Roppongi Hills, Tokyo and Constellation in Covent Garden. Performances include Echo, performed in Italy, Tonto, a music promotion for Battles, and commercial work for Massive Attack’s world tour in 2008. More recently they created Frozen in Time for the WWF, and they were also commissioned to re-design the iconic ‘T’ of the New York Times’ style magazine for their 5th anniversary issue.
Mira Calix
Composer
Mira is a performer, composer and DJ. She released her first single – Pin Skeeling – in 1998 and has since released several other EPs and albums including Prickle, One on One, The Elephant in the Room, Skimskitta and Eyes Set Against the Sun. Mira has also created work for live productions and art installations. Her compositions include music for the circus production Lactic Acid, the National Theatre’s Free, Dead Wedding by Faulty Optic, Onibus for Opera North and My Secret Heart for Streetwise Opera.
Location
Cathedral Nave
Durham Cathedral, Durham, DH1 3EH
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Additional information
Visit www.uva.co.uk for more information
Commissioned by Opera North for the opening of the Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, in February 2009, in association with the Culture Company, assisted by a grant from Northern Rock Foundation.
Photos
Photo © United Visual Artists
