A stunning interactive site-specific light installation has gone on display at the Outer Hebrides in Scotland that highlights the problem of rising sea levels faced by coastal communities.
The stunning installation is on display until August 2019. Image by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
Created for the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre by Finnish artists Pekka Niittyvirta and Timo Aho, Lines (57° 59′ N, 7° 16’W) uses sensors to interact with the rising tidal changes to activate synchronised lines of light right by the water. On display until 31 August, the work helps spectators imagine the future sea level rise over an undefined period of time, depending on what action is taken towards climate control, and explores the impact and long term future effects on the inhabitants of towns in coastal areas. According to the project, it is especially relevant to low-lying island archipelagos such as the Uists.
Sensors interact with rising tides to activate synchronised lights. Image by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
“Our Museum & Arts centre is close to the shore in these low-lying islands, and we cannot develop on the site any more as the predicted storm surge levels will potentially flood the building. Even now, at seasonal spring high tides we can experience some flooding. When we heard of Timo and Pekka’s project we contacted them and said we have the ideal location to site this in relation to sea level rise. It is a stunning visualisation of the issue of sea level rise,” Andy Mackinnon, arts manager for Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre told Lonely Planet Travel News.
According to Andy, the reaction to the work has been very strong, with visitors being awe-struck when they discover that the lights are actually activated by the tides. “The interest generated by the light installation has been fantastic. Visitors can see it from the ferry as it approaches,” Andy said.
The project aims to start a discussion on the impacts of climate change in coastal communities. Image by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
More information on seeing Lines (57° 59′ N, 7° 16’W) is available at the official Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre website.
The post Stunning lights in the Outer Hebrides carry an important environmental message appeared first on Lonely Planet Travel News.