jason bruges' 'light masonry' eerily illuminates york minster cathedral

‘light masonry’ by jason bruges studio is headlining this year’s illuminating york festival in england. centered around bruges’ grand installation at the york minster cathedral, the festival invites visitors to explore and discover the city through the imagination of artists, using the medium of light in all its forms. 

the festival invites visitors to discover the city through the imagination of artists, using the medium of light

the line-up features a number of newly commissioned site-specific works purposefully designed for the illuminating york festival, all playing out alongside the headline installation, ‘light masonry’ by jason bruges studio. ‘light masonry’ is an epic, site-responsive installation based in the main nave of york minster. the artwork is influenced by and extends from the design of the cathedral, creating a secondary layer of dynamic, temporal and ephemeral architecture sculpted purely from light.

the line-up features a number of newly commissioned works purposefully designed for the festival

inspired by the continuous crafting and iterating of the layers of work by york minster’s stonemasons, ‘light masonry’ investigates the relationship between the vaults, light and the audience. drawing upon the ceremonial nature of the space, the studio has created a synchronised procession of light that highlights and explores the nave as a choreographed architectural experience. as the organ hums in the background, the multiple arms of light pierce the space of main hall, working at times alone and at times in unison to engrave the walls of the church with their synchronized journey. 

‘light masonry’ investigates the relationship between the vaults, light and the audience

the various formations of light are constructed using a bespoke system of 48 computer controlled ‘icon beam’ moving head luminaires, inscribing the perimeter of the main nave and bringing to life an evanescent architecture within the preexisting volumes of the church. the immersive and atmospheric piece is complimented by the soundscape of pari intervallo by arvo pärt, performed live by the minster’s organists. it’s an eerie and peculiar soundtrack to a multifaceted work, one that simultaneously pays homage to the traditional masonry of the building and suggests an alternative, intangible architecture of its own. 

the installation highlights the atmospheric volumes of the nave

a system of 48 computer controlled moving head luminaires inscribe the perimeter of the main nave

the piece is complimented by the soundscape of pari intervallo by arvo pär

the piece both pays homage to the masonry of the building and suggests a future, intangible architecture of its own

the studio has created a synchronised procession of light that highlights and explores the nave 

the lights work at times alone and at times in unison to engrave the walls of the church. 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: peter corboy | designboom

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