Art of London, the award-winning cultural initiative, returns with Art After Dark, a free late-night arts program showcasing a spectacular neon public art installation by acclaimed artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, alongside over 16 West End galleries that will remain open late.
Chila Burman has unveiled 14 glowing artworks, including eight new commissions specially for Leicester Square Gardens towering nearly ten feet high. Titled There Is No Darkness in the Garden of Light, the public artworks will be on display from Thursday October 10th to Saturday October 12th in the capital’s entertainment district.
Reflecting Chila Burman’s Indian heritage and inspired by London’s diverse communities, Chila Burman’s creations include radiant representations of Indian deities like Laxmi and Ganesh, a whimsical underwater scene with fish and seashells, as well as icons of South Asian femininity and a magical, Barbie-inspired figure.
Debuting ahead of Diwali, Burman’s installation includes a hypnotic trail of fluorescent artworks exhibited around Leicester Square including neons embellishing the front of London Trocadero, The Hippodrome Casino, Westminster Reference Library and The Londoner hotel. Burman’s illuminated artworks include Dragon, Phoenix, Flamingos, Mermaid, Hanging Monkey and Ice-Cream Cone.
The head-turning art pays homage to iconic local landmarks, such as the water fountains of Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square Gardens, while also connecting with William Shakespeare whose statue stands as a centrepiece in the gardens. Shakespeare’s quote, ‘There is no darkness but ignorance,” inscribed on the fountain featuring his statue, reflects Burman’s philosophy as an artist.
Art After Dark is perfect for a night out with friends or a date, visitors can discover guided tours hosted by arts experts visiting independent arthouses including the Stern Pissarro Gallery, Saatchi Yates, Cristea Roberts Gallery, and Skarstedt. Coinciding with Frieze London, these galleries will remain open late on Thursday October 10th, whilst the Royal Academy of Art, The National Gallery, and National Portrait Gallery will stay open late on Friday 11th October, featuring groundbreaking exhibitions to hop around.
Standout moments within the arts and culture programme include the works of Ian Davenport’s at Cristea Roberts and street art by Olaolu Slawn at Saatchi Yates, while at the National Portrait Gallery, contemporary artist Es Devlin will be in conversation with author Ekow Eshun.
The Piccadilly Lights will also screen Burman’s digital art titled Dada and the Punjabi Princess, an eye-catching video that immerses the public in a dazzling fusion of punk, pop art, and Bollywood, showcasing Indian dancers through the mesmerising lens of a kaleidoscope.
Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, artist, said: “I’m made up to unveil my vibrant neon installation, There Is No Darkness in the Garden of Light. Through a series of glowing artworks, I invite people to experience the West End at night and discover how I pay homage to iconic figures of Indian feminism and landmarks like the water fountain in Leicester Square Gardens, to spread joy and celebrate London’s diverse communities.”
