Parallels Two - Leo Villareal

Parallels is a series by our Reviews Editor Erica Rompani. Through these articles Erica explores the correlation in programming between independent and/or commercial galleries to ‘blockbuster’ exhibits at public institutions. Erica aims to both celebrate and critique this strategy in the modern day. Parallels Two focuses on the work of world-renowned artist, Leo Villareal. 

Walking along the River Thames, London, in the evening you might have noticed that some of the bridges are displaying new ‘light shows’. Illuminated River, is an ambitious public art project launched in the summer of 2019 and that will run for the duration of  ten years. The artist behind this large scale project is Leo Villareal who partnered with British architectural practice Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands for the occasion. By taking inspiration from the colours of the sunset, sunrise, and from the boats flowing down the river the American artist will illuminate fifteen London Bridges. This is meant to encourage the enjoyment of the riverside in a new way — but don’t worry — the project was conceived mindfully of ‘heritage, wildlife and the built environment’.

If you are not familiar with Villareal’s work, worry not. Pace Gallery, located at 6 Burlington Gardens, offers the perfect opportunity to explore some of Leo’s most recent work. Upon entering the exhibition space, the visitor is transported into a night-like-setting in a pitch-black room. The magical algorithms that Leo uses to create his light works are here displayed on LED screens. These works, unlike Illuminated River which features colours, are monochromatic. The combination of computer numbers used by the artist creates moving star like compositions which are simply enchanting.

We highly recommend going to explore Leo Villareal’s parallel universes.

For more information on Illuminated River: https://illuminatedriver.london/

Pace Gallery, Leo Villareal, 22 November 2019 -18 January 2020

Erica Rompani

Reviews Editor, MADE IN BED