Luxmuralis's Space spectacular comes to Hereford Cathedral

The event proved a huge hit, with tickets completely selling out before the opening night. The mesmerising exhibition; Space, ran from Wednesday 16 to Saturday 19 October and invited visitors to experience the cathedral in a new light to how they may have experienced it previously. With a series of space-themed light and sound installations projected inside the building onto the stunning architecture, it wasn't difficult to see why this event proved a huge success for the city.

The historic architecture saw an array of lights projected all around. (Image: Luxmuralis/Julia Baker) The event allowed visitors to ponder our relationship with the universe through a series of light and sound installations which were projected onto the stunning architecture.

ALSO READ:

• Why this Herefordshire bridge WON'T be getting traffic lights
• Rupaul's Drag Race UK star coming to Hereford event
• BIG changes are coming at this Herefordshire cider firm

The lights allowed visitors to journey through space, and watch galaxies emerge above them and explore humanity's ambition to adventure beyond. 

Colourful lights absorbed the ceiling of the grand building. (Image: Luxmuralis/Julia Baker) The show was created by award-winning artistic collaboration Luxmuralis, made up of Peter Walker, a sculptor, and David Harper, a composer, and features the creation story and the Big Bang as well as a view of Earth as if looking back from space under a galaxy of stars.

The artistic spectacular combined projection and sound to create an immersive space-themed experience, with themes of eras on earth from the Big Bang to an imagined future of space travel.

Intricate videos were screened onto the walls, with crowds gathering to spectate. (Image: Luxmuralis/Julia Baker) I was invited for a sneak preview of the popular event, with a small number of us welcomed into the beautiful building to be transported into a world of colourful lights, along with intriguing sounds.

What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.

First, we were welcomed into the Cloister’s café, to enjoy some light refreshments and listen to a brief but informative introduction about what we should expect. We were greeted with plenty of leaflets and small booklets explaining Luxmuralis’ work, and the artistic talent that was behind this spectacular event.

Shortly afterwards, we were welcomed into the grand building, immediately greeted by a dark surrounding, illuminated by colourful and unmissable lights, with a calming lull of music in the background.

We were led through the historic building, the light building as we went on. (Image: Luxmuralis/Julia Baker) As we slowly began our journey around the cathedral, it became clear the sheer time and effort that was put into creating such a visually attractive event. Each corner and crevice of the building was illuminated in the projections, with videos being projected all around.

The visuals were perfectly paired with the enchanting audio, with a crowd of us gathering at a specific projection, not wanting to look away for fear of missing something.  

The large projections certainly attracted a crowd at the cathedral. (Image: Luxmuralis/Julia Baker) It was evident to me from our sneak preview that the show was going to be a huge hit with every eager visitor who would enter the cathedral. I took myself around the building several times to experience each projection and video a few more times, each time I was still just as intrigued as I was upon entering the mysterious exhibition.

What I loved most about the exhibition was how each shape and formation in the cathedral was incorporated into the show, with not an inch of the building left untouched by the atmosphere, which added to the general feeling of being transported into a far-away universe.

Peter Walker, one of the exhibition creators, said the team were “delighted” to have taken their work to the county, after having done several shows previously in other cathedrals around the UK.

The exhibition provided an immersive experience. (Image: Luxmuralis/Julia Baker)

“What brought us more joy was the way in which the city embraced the installation, and seeing thousands walk through the building immersed in light and sound, many visiting for the first time.

“Art is an essential part of our culture and central to expressing and discussing major event subjects and emotions.

“The cathedral’s partnership in this and bringing contemporary art to the city, and continued placement of the art in the life of the building is testament to a vision for providing the very best of modern culture for those who visit.”