Lightroom - London's new immersive experience

Looks like they are starting a promo push today, some info gone out here

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/bridge-theatres-london-sister-space-lightroom-to-o_57816.html

I hope its more thought out than the van gough tent that was lurking in hyde park. It was google image search with classical light favourites playing in the background

There's a bit more detail in the emails from the Bridge:

Hockney will use the innovative venue to take the audience on a personal journey through his art, featuring iconic paintings alongside some rarely seen pieces and some newly created work. His life-long fascination with the possibilities of new media is given vibrant expression in a show that invites visitors to see the world through his eyes.

In a cycle of six themed chapters, with a specially composed score by Nico Muhly and a commentary by the artist himself, Hockney reveals his process to us. His voice is in our ears as we watch him experimenting with perspective, using photography as a way of 'drawing with a camera', capturing the passing of time in his polaroid collages and the joy of spring on his iPad, and showing us why only paint can properly convey the hugeness of the Grand Canyon. We join him on his audio-visual Wagner Drive, roaring up into the San Gabriel Mountains, and into the opera house by means of animated re-creations of his stage designs.

From LA to Yorkshire, and up to the present day in Normandy, the show is an unprecedented opportunity to spend time in the presence of one of the great popular geniuses of the art world still innovating, still creating beauty and awe.

And as for the future:

Lightroom has carried out the front and back-of-house designs and in years to come the venue will be able to turn into a theatre by installing a 600-seat version of the pre-fabricated modular auditorium designed and engineered by Haworth Tompkins and Tait which has proved so successful for the Bridge Theatre.

At £25, I'll be impressed if they follow the National Gallery's example and have 'pay what you can' on Friday evenings.


Questionable. If this modular design allows for proscenium staging, I have yet to see it.

To a degree. Hence my remark.

I would be interested in this but it seems overpriced at £32.50 for a peak weekend ticket. I'll wait for the discounts!

I enjoyed it - interesting presentation; 2D art digitally and on 6 surfaces with the artist effectively hosting. I went on a Sunday, lots of family groups, children of all ages sitting/walking/running around, very encouraging.

Bit like Red Square outside though I'm sure time will be kind.

Apparently he was drawn to California in the 60s for the ... light <cough>

I enjoyed this, a good intro to Hockney’s work. But both times I’ve been ( with different guests) there were little toddler and younger kidlets there. Quite a few of them. So crying and so on making it hard to hear the commentary and distracting. It seems to be a regular parent and kiddie venue. Makes me sound like a real grouch but also I’m wondering if the flashing visions are actually a good idea for little ones. It isn’t a cheap outing.

Classical pianist Yuja Wang is going to perform “six intimate concerts” at Lightroom on September 28, 29, and 30 (two hour-long concerts each night, at 7 pm and 9 pm). She will play “a repertoire of pieces inspired by her response to David Hockney’s artworks.” (https://lightroom.uk/whats-on/lightroom-live-yuja-hockney/ )

Seated tickets cost £49.50, standing tickets are £29.50 (Upper Gallery) and £19.50 (Lower Gallery).

The event sounds like it could be a little “out there”, but if I were in London I would jump at the chance to hear Wang at those prices, which are considerably less than she commands when she plays Carnegie Hall (where her concerts are always sold out anyway).

Also if there are now lower and upper galleries they would interfere with the original projections. How are they putting those in I wonder ? Scaffolding job ?

Next show at the Lightroom announced: a "Moon experience" written and narrated by Tom Hanks.
www.timeout.com/london/news/tom-hanks-is-narrating-a-spectacular-space-themed-immersive-experience-in-london-092023

Just saw that Lightroom are now offering 50% off exhibitions if you have an Art Pass, in case anyone has one but finds the headline prices for the venue a bit steep.

Also saw that in the latest Art Fund email, which would certainly make a visit more affordable, though I'm still unsure about the type of display/experience.

Slightly off-topic, but for those who don't know, the Art Pass is really good value if you do visit art galleries and museums, or want to try doing so more, as it reduces the cost substantially without the need for membership of the individual organisations.  Also, having had a pass for some years, I now find I visit a lot more exhibitions than I used to; plus more regional museums and galleries.  If you want to try it out without commiting to a year's membership, they offer 3-month trials for £15, though you might need a member referral.  You could even use the trial membership to make a series of visits for that period only, eg for a planned trip.