Sparkling illuminations as part of York festival

Students at York St John University are getting set to see their enchanting designs brought to life as part of the Illuminating York festival, running from 30 October to 2 November.

Now in its ninth year, the annual digital arts festival uses cutting-edge technology to create a colourful celebration of York’s unique heritage, from spectacular sites to hidden gems. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Illuminating the Past, Enlightening the Future’ and will focus on York’s Viking history.

This year Illuminating York is working in partnership with York St John University to give emerging artists a platform to showcase their ideas and creations through mentored commissions. The SPARK initiative will see five artists respond to the theme ‘Yggdrasil:Tree of Life’ - a major part of the Viking belief system – to create light installations clustered around York Minster and the surrounding gardens.

Jasmine Devlin, a third year BA Fine Art student, is one of the chosen SPARK artists. Jasmine will portray a contemporary interpretation of the ancient story of Yggdrasil: the Tree of Life, depicting the story in a broader sense allowing viewers to relate to the new and eternal life within the tree and themselves. She will work with a giant sycamore tree in the corner of the Memorial Gardens in Duncombe Place, where the roots will be lit up and a false root system created to encourage visitors to look down.

Jasmine said:
“My work is both connected to and inspired by trees, meaning the SPARK theme is particularly fitting. Working with Perspex glass, with a main focus on the roots, I intend to allow viewers to see the endings of a tree they have never seen before.”

ViaperPerformance, comprised of BA Theatre graduates Kiran Tanna and Richard Wade, was also chosen to take part in the SPARK initiative. Established in 2011, ViaperPerformance is an artist led contemporary theatre company who blur the boundaries between theatre, music, dance and live art. Their performance, ‘Sunset Dance – Small Gods’ will take place in the grounds of Treasurer’s House.

Kiran Tanna said:
“We have interpreted ‘Tree of Life’ almost as ‘trees come to life’. Playfully abstracting concepts drawn from the theme, we want to hone in on the idea of a forest being alive with history and sensation. Visitors will be treated to a multi-sensory experience of growing and travelling ‘through’ an experience.”

Illuminating York is supported by City of York Council, Arts Council England, Visit York, York St John University, English Heritage, York Museums Trust, York Archaeological Trust and the people of York. Cutting-edge technology creates a colourful celebration of York’s unique heritage, from spectacular sites to hidden gems.