After the incredible success of last year’s event, Summer Lights makes a return to Canary Wharf for 2022. The event, which takes place over two months from 20 June to 20 August, sees the public spaces around Canary Wharf transformed into a prism of light by large-scale art installations from some of the UK’s leading artists.
Like last year, the installations will be designed to make the most of the glorious bright sunlight during the summer months, with a cacophony of colour, reflective surfaces and interactive artworks.
If 2021 is anything to go by we’re in for a treat.
Who can forget Shine Your Colours by Tine Bech Studio? The installation consisted of transparent coloured glass panels which visitors could walk in and out of and see themselves transformed by the
changing colours of the panels. It was designed to be a creative and engaging space but also a place to meet and reflect.
Or Whirl by Helena Doyle x Tom Cherry & Temple. This sculpture, inspired by the idea of renewable energy, was installed above seated benches and used the power of the wind to transform the pavement into a riot of colour and movement.
Circle of Light Spectrum by toyStudio was particularly impressive. The large-scale installation consisted of a circle of multicoloured panels which made up the visible light spectrum, circling around the Cabot Square fountain in an incomplete circle. The panels changed colours depending on the intensity of the sunlight.
A particular favourite was the immersive sculptural work Hymn to the Big Wheel by artist Liz West which consisted of a huge octagon structure made from jewel-coloured panels within another a larger octagonal shape that visitors could walk through and become part of the performance.
Like last year, the Summer Lights event is free, and to fully enjoy the experience, visitors are encouraged to wander round the installations at different times of the day, from sunrise to sunset. Also
not to be missed are the permanent art installations in the area such as Richard Hudson’s famous Tear, an organic mirrored steel sculpture which can be found outside Canary Wharf Station. Or the reflective bronze and steel sculpture known as Sasso Cosmico, which means Cosmic Stone, and is installed in the gardens at Westferry Circus.
The Summer Lights festival map will be available to download from CanaryWharf.com
Artists Needed for Canary Wharf Event
The Canary Wharf Estate is once again hosting the Summer Lights exhibition and has asked for artists and groups to submit a proposal.
The event, which runs from June to August, celebrates the beauty of natural light, and saw 11 installations feature last year from some of the UK’s leading artists. The 2021 installations responded to themes of sustainability, plastic pollution and LGBTQ+ culture.
If you’re interested in submitting a proposal for Summer Lights 2022, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and a member of the team will send a submissions pack with all the
information you need.
The deadline for submitting proposals is Sunday 27 February 2022.
