The days are getting shorter, the evenings are getting darker, and the weather is – quite literally – raining all over our parade. A severe case of the winter blues is sweeping across London, but don’t panic – it’s not all bad news. Some well-needed light was injected into our (rather gloomy) city this week in the form of two brand-new public art installations.
In a bid to put smiles on even the grumpiest of Londoners’ faces; these smile-inducing illuminations have been installed in the heart of east London, courtesy of Brookfield Properties and the Architects of Happiness over at Kit and Caboodle (an award-winning experiential design agency). And they’re completely free to visit – yippee!
The Architects of Happiness are a network of visionary creatives, vibe-engineers and disruptive designers. Sounds like a pretty cool job, right? They’ve created these mood-boosting artworks to awaken wonder and spark joy in whoever sees them.
“We wanted to design immersive light experiences that had a mood brightening effect. We had fun looking back to the ’90s visual aesthetic of vibrant, dopamine-inducing colours when creating the installations. We took inspiration from the colour psychology trends that the brighter and lighter the colour, the happier and more optimistic it can make you feel. Both artworks in the collection are designed to make those interacting with them feel joyful and exuberant” says Tanya Clark, Architect of Happiness and Creative Director at Kit and Caboodle.
The two installations are already lighting up the city, and together comprise Brookfield Properties’ annual public light festival, IlluminoCity, which is now in its fifth year. You’ll find ‘Beaming’ near Shoreditch High Street and ‘Happy House’ at Citypoint near Moorgate. Both pretty much do what they say on the tin.
‘Beaming’ is a social media-inspired piece, designed to inspire smiles and instantly create a positive impact on the consumer. Think the smiley-face emoji – but huge and very colourful. ‘Happy House’ is an immersive experience, where the visitor can step inside and experience motion-activated ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ lighting, sacred geometry, and a bespoke soundscape. This piece is designed to inspire relaxation, focus, creativity, and mindfulness.
Public art is hugely mood-impacting; it brings people together and creates a sense of community. So, if you’re feeling a bit down-in-the-dumps this winter, head on over to east London and let these truly joyful installations brighten your day.
These art installations will be open to the public, free of charge, until January 27, 2024. Find out more about them here.
📍 1 Principal Place, EC2A 2BA and 1 Ropemaker Street, EC2V 9HT.
🚇 Nearest stations are Shoreditch High Street and Moorgate.