Workers in Central London were treated to an unusual, and colourful, sight on Monday, January 16 when a cluster of giant bubbles sprouted up outside London’s Cheesegrater building. But, no, this wasn’t some massive detergent mishap causing bubbles to fill the area. Instead, it’s an artwork from Sydney-based ‘art-chitects’ Atelier Sisu. Titled Evanescent, as in the quality of being fleeting or vanishing quickly, the bubbles attempt to magnify the glorious shapes that captivate all, young and old. It’s an installation that hopes, through sound, light, colour, and brightness, to bring joy to a dark and gloomy London this winter.
Evanescent
Evanescent first premiered in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia in 2021. The giant bubbles take inspiration from where they are placed to inform their size and presence. They react to and reinvent the space in which they are presented.
In London, viewers can walk around and under the bubbles, observing the dazzling lighting. It’s a truly spectacular installation, with the bubbles reaching a height of as much as seven-and-a-half metres. The bubbles are made out of a colour-reflecting dichroic film. The material reacts to the sun as it moves across the sky, which then causes a rainbow of reflection as the light is filtered through it.
Said Renzo B. Larriviere and Zara Pasfield of Atelier Sisu:
“The artwork was inspired during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the world stopped and everything we took for granted started to disappear. We wanted to communicate this feeling of transient beauty, and the need to live in the moment through the idea of the bubble. Art-chitecture as well call it, connects audiences with their environment and is designed to be truly inclusive. By emulating the ethereal quality and magic of bubbles, Evanescent appeals to our childlike wonder and universal playfulness – something we all need at this time of year.”
As beautiful as bubbles are, though, they never last forever – not even the giant ones. The installation is only in place until February 10, so be sure to catch it before the bubbles disappear!
Where did the giant bubbles come from?
The artwork comes courtesy of a commission from the Eastern City Business Improvement District (EC BID), with help from FESTIVAL.ORG. It’s part of BID’s RECHARGE campaign, which aims to support the mental wellbeing of workers and visitors to the area. The campaign also hopes to attract footfall to local businesses that may be struggling. It’s an active effort to combat the the quiet periods that January can bring. All of this will be done through workshops, events, and various activities that will allow Londoners to ‘recharge’. Head to the BID website to find out more about the campaign programme.
Said Bradley Hemmings, the Founder and Artistic Director of FESTIVAL.ORG:
“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the darkest, coldest months of the year, Evanescent will bring uplifting free art to the heart of the City and with it a hopeful sense of wonder for thousands of Londoners. We are thrilled to be working with the EC BID and Atelier Sisu to bring this visually stunning installation to London for the first time off the back of a joyous Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2022.”
Find Evanescent on the west side of the Cheesegrater (The Leadenhall Building), at 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4AB.