London outdoor cultural festival brings the art to Marble Arch with stunning illumination

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Marble Arch, the world-renowned London landmark, is playing host to an illumination of Claire Luxton’s ‘Metamorphosis’ artwork as part of the Inside Out Festival, a celebration of cultural and art exhibitions in outdoor locations across London’s West End.

Marble Arch London BID and English Heritage are working in partnership to support the Inside Out Festival, which forms part of the wider Westminster Reveals campaign, the latest in a series of initiatives introduced by Westminster City Council to encourage visitors to return to the city’s streets and enjoy London’s famed cultural scene.

The festival has celebrated arts and culture in outdoor locations across London’s West End, including open air performances, outdoor exhibitions, and cultural and artistic installations from some of the area’s top theatres, opera houses, museums and galleries. Highlights so far include a display by The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and the Tusk Lion Trail, 22 life-sized lion sculptures guiding visitors on a journey to West End’s most iconic landmarks.

Claire Luxton’s artwork – entitled ‘Metamorphosis’ – celebrates life, nature and optimism, and is being projected onto the iconic Marble Arch landmark from sunset between 27-30 October. This spectacular illumination will be a major attraction for visitors considering day trips into central London to enjoy the shops and dining out.

Kay Buxton, Chief Executive, Marble Arch London BID, comments: “We are excited that Marble Arch is playing host to such an amazing piece of artwork. The Inside Out festival offers visitors a safe and accessible way to experience London’s art and cultural sights, and we hope it will encourage more people to visit Marble Arch and enjoy the illuminations.

“The arrival of ‘Metamorphosis’ also coincides with the launch of our latest Eating Out Guide, A Taste of Marble Arch, which provides those that work, live, and visit the Marble Arch area to find out more about the fantastic array of restaurants, cafes and bars we have on offer, and we hope the illuminations will allow more people to sample these culinary delights.”

Claire Luxton is a UK-based multi-disciplinary artist who specialises in photography, painting, poetry and installations and has collaborated with brands ranging from Adobe to McQueens as well as creating bespoke artworks for clients such as The Birmingham Royal Ballet and JP Morgan.

Claire Luxton, artist of Metamorphosis, said: “In recent times we have seen a global coming together in the face of uncertainty, isolation, and adversity. At the forefront of this camaraderie has been inspirational energy, not with a message of sorrow, but a collective outpouring of hope, love & creativity. I have always found art inspiring and therapeutic; I think it has a way of lifting people up and communication on a non-verbal level. Hope & Other Stories: ‘Metamorphosis’, aims to be a celebration of fellowship, joy, and hope for the future. An exploration of the visual, transcending the unspoken social barriers that are often in our way, and a coming together of open minds and new perspectives.

“Marble Arch was designed as a gateway and a celebration. Now located on the edge of Hyde Park I wanted Hope & Other Stories: ‘Metamorphosis’ to be a celebration of new life, nature, and optimism. I have always been driven to explore our relationship to nature and how important it is to celebrate and protect our ecosystem. The ever-evolving video projection onto Marble Arch will combine the beautiful architecture of the original structure with the organic forms and evolutions of butterflies, flowers, and nature. The result will be a celebration of life, colour, light, and energy.”