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Art & Design Culture

Nordic Lights exhibit heats up Toronto winter

If you’re tired of staying cooped up indoors after the sun goes down, head on over to Harbourfront Centre for Nordic Lights. The exhibition of light installations from Canada and Nordic countries is sure to dispel your mid-winter gloom. But you’ve only got another week to take everything in. The exhibit closes Monday (February 21).

The six pieces are located around 235 Queens Quay West, between the concert stage and Canada Square. And they’re completely free to enjoy. Just make sure you get there between the hours of 5 and 10 pm. Before and after that, they’re turned off.

The most fun pieces are the interactive ones, like Quebec art studio Iregular’s CONTROL NO CONTROL, a big LED cube that reacts to everyone, and thing, that touches it. It’s more entertaining than the latest Matrix movie.

Photo by Nick Lachance
Photo by Nick Lachance

Swedish artist Alexander Lervik’s Sense Light Swing wasn’t ready during the exhibit’s launch here in late January and for the week after. But the technical problems have been worked out, and now you can hop on a swing (made of transparent acrylic) and take a ride, creating your own LED-generated light show as you do so.

It’s hard to miss Swedish artist Aleksandra Stratimirovic’s Great Minds installation. The piece, visible from Queens Quay, suggests two massive brains engaged in a sort of dialogue – or brainstorm?

Photo by Nick Lachance

Two Nordic Lights pieces are projected onto the eastern wall of The Power Plant building. Equinox, by Norwegian artist Anastasia Isachsen, combines elements of dance, jazz (there are speakers behind you) and graphics to comment on the nature of light and dark. Finnish artist Outi Pieski’s Gorži, meanwhile, makes it seem like waterfalls are cascading from the windows of The Power Plant. It’s truly surreal and oddly calming.

The most Instagram-friendly installation, however, is Pressure, by Denmark artists Hans E. Madsen and Frederik D. Hougs. It features a series of snake-like tubes hanging from supports, almost like vines in a garden. Light courses through the tubes, creating a playful doodle-like effect.

Photo by Nick Lachance
Photo by Nick Lachance

You can take in the entire exhibit in about 10 or 15 minutes. It’s free, perfect for families and feels completely safe. On the night I went, several security guards were standing around, keeping an eye on things.

So light up your life this winter. The plug gets pulled on February 21.

Nordic Lights continues until February 21. See more info here.

@glennsumi

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