Connecting Light is a major new art installation along the line of Hadrians Wall, as part of the programme for the London 2012 Festival. Connecting Light is a major new art installation along the line of Hadrians Wall, as part of the programme for the London 2012 Festival.
The installation has been designed by New York based digital arts collective YesYesNo with Zachary Lieberman. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) commission is being produced in partnership with Hadrian's Wall Trust and local partners.
Zachary Lieberman said: ?Our concept is to create a digital platform by which messages can be communicated the entire length of the Wall.
"The goal is to understand the Wall in a modern context and imagine the Wall not as a barrier but as a bridge, as a means of connecting rather than dividing.
"The installation serves as a low res fibre optic line connecting both coasts of England and allowing messages to spread in either direction.
"People will be able to interact at sites along the Wall and as well as all over the world through the internet."
Linda Tuttiett, chief executive of Hadrian's Wall Heritage said: "Connecting Light will turn what was the Roman Empire's northern frontier into a contemporary communication system.
"We want to inspire a worldwide conversation of people?s thoughts on all aspects of borders and frontiers in their lives today, and we will be able to communicate the importance of the World Heritage Site and showcase our inspirational northern landscapes and fantastic heritage to new audiences around the world."
Using a series of 400 tethered weather balloons, approximately 6ft in diameter and lit by internal LED lights, the installation will become a line of pulsating colours as messages are sent along the Wall. The installation will be visible in the evening (best between 8pm and midnight) and accessible to visitors at 15 locations across the Wall.
Full details of times and visiting locations for Connecting Light are available on www.hadrians-wall.org The installation will be live from Friday 31 August to Saturday 1 September.
Connecting Light is being designed to be viewed remotely all over the world using digital media. Messages sent across the Wall can be made visible through smartphones, i-pads and tablets and detailed information will be available at a number of visitor sites.
See www.connectinglight.info for more details on the event and how to interact remotely.
For more information on the London 2012 festival programme which spans music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, film and fashion, visit www.london2012.com/festival
