Time – the brand new sound and light show by artistic collaboration Luxmuralis – is coming to Exeter Cathedral from 7-11 January, taking visitors on a journey through history, science, and imagination.
In this Q&A, Luxmuralis’ Peter Walker and David Harper share their inspirations behind their new immersive artwork and the significance of sharing their creations in cathedrals and sacred spaces.
Who are Luxmuralis? Tell us more about yourselves and the artistic collaboration.
Luxmuralis is a collaboration between artist and sculptor Peter Walker, and composer David Harper. We have worked together for over 30 years on many different artistic projects and Luxmuralis was an evolution of this process and is a collaborative name to cover this work. Over time a team of fantastic technical and artistic support has developed around us who help us to install and bring the vision of the artwork to life within complex and important buildings like Exeter Cathedral
How did you first become interested in the son-et-lumiere (sound and light) medium?
Son et Lumière is a French term and in many ways has a specific style which French designers have developed over decades. What we do is linked to son et lumiere and described that way due to the similarity. However what we create is quite unique, and came about from fine art production and the incorporation of light, projection and sound to create immersive fine art.
Luxmuralis in 2016 created a completely new way of using these technical approaches and that has evolved into the style and form that we use today. This new form of art inside cathedrals is completely unique, as we take audiences on journeys in, through and immersed in light and sound. There is nothing quite like what we do. The term ‘light and sound and projection’, and son et lumiere try to take in large swathes of using the medium, but it’s better to look at how individuals use the art form and from there see the uniqueness of their work. We are the only full time fine artists who adapt our work in this way and as such, this is always the element which makes our work unique.
What other sound and light projects have you worked on since forming Luxmuralis?
We have many projects, around 20-30 a year. We have worked on some fantastic places, from the Tower of London, Chatsworth House, Holkham Hall, The Bodliean Library, as well as around 30 or so cathedrals in the UK and several abroad.
Why do you choose cathedrals as a canvas for your sound and light installations?
Peter Walker worked as artistic director in four Cathedrals, and during this time and having access to these spaces, allowed the Luxmuralis style of artwork to evolve. We therefore make work for cathedrals. We don’t just look to use them as places to put our work, we create artwork which is part of the story, the art history and the message of the these remarkable places. We say we create the stained glass windows of our time”, by which we mean we use contemporary art and modern technology to tell stories and bring to life spaces which have always been the centre of art and communities. We just do this in a unique way.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the inspiration behind your latest sound and light show, ‘Time’?
Time is an artwork which is about thinking about our place in history. The artwork is a mix of pieces around the Cathedral which immerse the viewer in many aspects which make up our sense of time. And as we see all of history in an artistic form flash backwards to the beginning of everything, it allows us to not only enjoy the art and the colour and sound, and the fantastic combination in the Cathedral, it also allows us to think of our own place in time, our own personal journey.
What sort of research was involved in the creation of the new show?
A great deal of research goes into every artwork that we produce. Whether that’s David looking at musical reference, and style, tempos and music history to draw inspiration before creating a new score. Or from the fine art side it’s about collaging together images and for, reading many books, poetry and art which has addressed the subject. The art is not to just make something but to make it for a purpose. It takes a lot of thought, research and time producing fine art and new music. But from the viewers perspective we just want them to walk into the art and experience it within the space.
What can people expect from Time at Exeter Cathedral?
A journey through all of time in an artistic way, through modern times, eras and epochs, the stages of life on earth, dinosaurs, rock formation, and racing through the long distance past to the beginning of time. All inside a Cathedral. And alongside that we see the elements of art we know, books we know, relativity, clocks, and life played out in creative way. It’s a great way to take a short period of time out of our daily lives, visit a remarkable place and be immersed in art, music and architecture for a short time.
The ‘Time’ sound and light experience will be at Exeter Cathedral from 7-11 January 2025.
Find out more and book your ticket >