Canary Wharf is urging Londoners to visit its entrancing Summer Lights exhibition before its final day on Saturday 21st August – and next week visitors can watch the London Lions in action as they host a coaching session for young ballers on Yinka Ilori’s one-of-a-kind basketball court.
The Summer Lights display and basketball court are both free to visit, and are just a couple of the Estate’s attractions that have been drawing people to visit this summer.
Summer Lights Exhibition – ends Saturday 21st August
Canary Wharf’s numerous parks and outdoor spaces have been the setting for a unique light festival this summer made up of 11 kaleidoscopic, open-air installations to be explored during the day. They all make clever use of colour spectrums and are designed to dazzle when the sun’s light hits them.
Each artwork has been built around an important theme and is intended to prompt thought on issues including sustainability, plastic pollution and energy consumption, and LGBTQIA+ culture.
Among the collection is Aphra Shemza’s Ocean Rise, a sustainable sea-like structure that is accompanied by a crashing wave soundscape accessed by a QR code – while another to look out for is Hugh Turvey’s X-ray images of flora and algae inside Crossrail Place Roof Garden.
The display ends this Saturday, before making way for the popular Winter Lights festival later this year – designed for the night.
London Lions Junior Ballers Day – Thursday 26th August
International artist Yinka Ilori is the mastermind behind the Estate’s eye-catching, multi-coloured basketball court, which has hosted players from families to office workers trying their best to get a slam dunk.
Next Thursday the iconic court will be the setting for a day of coaching sessions hosted by London Lions in the Community – the community arm of London’s only pro basketball team.
Spectators are urged to come and support, as young ballers sharpen their skills and meet a pro player or two. There will also be a range of competitions and giveaways taking place throughout the day.
The day is part of London Lions’ ongoing work with the capital’s youth and wider community, as they look to provide a platform for young players to develop their skills.
Sessions will be taking place across the day, with a player meet and greet at 5pm.
