And there was light!
Not just the city, but the entire county of Galway won the well-deserved title of European Capital of Culture 2020 And it is that this magical Irish place exudes culture in every corner: art, music, dance, theater, traditions...
The current situation has prevented a multitude of events scheduled for this year from being held, including the inauguration of Savage Beauty, a large installation created by Finnish artist Kari Kola.
The presentation, planned to be held from March 14 to 17, had to be cancelled, but It has been decided to broadcast it online so that we can all enjoy it virtually.
A) Yes, the connemara mountains –described as "a wild beauty" by Oscar Wilde– have been filled with light and color , becoming the largest light-based art installation in the world to date.
'Savage Beauty', the installation that has illuminated the mountains of Connemara
CONNEMARA, WIDER AND BRIGHTER THAN EVER
The Kari Kola art installation houses 1,000 lights spread over a distance of 5 kilometers and for its assembly, 16 light generators were needed that had to be transported in helicopters, enduring the usual winds and drizzles of this corner of Ireland.
"I am interested in light beyond its artistic value. Everything on the planet is based on light. I am working with scientific projects and new futuristic techniques. With abstract light, there are as many stories as there are viewers. If I can choose, I always work with nature because that is the best art we have”, explains Kari Kola.
“I am very disappointed that the public exhibition of this work had to be cancelled, but I hope this digital edition will show how we play on a large scale in Connemara and we created something that people would not expect," says the artist.
Connemara, wilder and brighter than ever
For its part, Helen Marriage, Creative Director of Galway 2020 She notes: “I am so proud of Kari Kola and his brilliant team who have worked day and night for weeks in some of the most challenging weather conditions to create this wonderful work of art. We were really touched by the welcome that the local community gave us during this time. Your support has been invaluable.”
And she continues: “While we have sadly had to cancel Savage Beauty live shows following government recommendations on public gatherings due to the Covid-19 virus, I am delighted to be able to share this special digital edition so that as many people as possible can experience this extraordinary work of art."
to enjoy the great bright colors tapestry in which the Irish mountains have become, you just have to click here.