The Weather Project
Photo via turfmagazine.wordpress.com.
The Weather Project was Olafur Eliasson's first art installation at the Tate Modern. One of the earlier pieces that took up the space in the Turbine Hall, it's still my favourite. From one really big sun to lots and lot of little suns, Danish-Icelandic artist, Olafur Eliasson is bringing light back into the Tate Modern in London.
Olafur and Little Sun
Photo by Tomas Gislason
In a series of blackouts in August, you can experience some of the museum's most famous art works by lamp light. Developed in partnership with Frederik Ottesen, Eliasson created a small solar-powered light in the shape of a sunflower. Called a 'Little Sun', the main aim of the project is to distribute the lights to communities in areas where electricity is difficult to access. The little suns are on sale to buy for £16.50 to visitors of the Tate or online on their website and purchase of them means they can make it more affordable to people in those off-grid communities.
You can pop over to the third floor of the Tate to visit the Little Sun station where you can learn about the project as well as get involved in a bit of art yourselves. There is an area where you can take your lamp light in for a spot of light graffiti.
Blackouts at the Tate
Photo by Andy Miah
Purchase of a lamp also gives you free entrance to one of their blackouts… There are two more blackouts scheduled at the Tate: 11 August and 18 August. Entrance to the blackouts are from 10.15pm to midnight but you'll need to either book online here or at the museum (before the actual night!).
Find more on what the project aims to do on www.littlesun.com. (Actually, on their website, there is still one more Tate blackout set for 8 September!).
2012 is a great year for art and culture too!
Little Sun is part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad in the UK. It's not just a fantastic year for sports, it's a year where art and culture is being especially highlighted throughout the country. And it's art and culture that wants to engage you, all of you! Like the ever so bouncy Sacrilege - rather inviting for kids and big kids too... See more in our post on it: It's sacrilege and it's bouncy.
If you're looking for a car hire to help you explore some more, get a quote on a great value UK car hire with us at CarJet.