“Light Cycles,” an often-breathtaking immersive night walk in the park, uses sound and light to evoke the beauty of the living world and takes full advantage of the varied features of La Villette, Paris’s largest park, designed by architect Bernard Tschumi in the 1980s and still looking good after 40-odd years.
La Villette hosts a multitude of activities in its squares, lawns, bosquets, follies and buildings old and new. In this festive season, the splendid outdoor light show complements the Christmas market and many concerts and exhibitions being held in various buildings in the park.
Visitors follows a circuit, clearly defined by a supple pathway, through five different zones, each with a distinct character and accompanying lighting effects. Panels explain the inspirations and themes from nature – a bit too “woo-woo” for me – but they can be easily ignored. The sensory impact doesn’t need words.
The curved paths and earth banks of the park and, above all, the existing mature vegetation, are skilfully used as a support for the installations. The breeze moving the branches and leaves – caught by a falling beam of light – adds nature’s magic to the changing, shimmering artistic effects. The canny composition of the whole keeps each zone separate, while the leisurely walk through the darkened park adds depth to the experience.
The integration of the trail into the park seemed effortless, testament to the skills of the designers, as were the drifts of mist used to capture light, as well as the effects of shadows and silhouettes of trees and slopes.
The zone that impressed the least, the “Hearth” at the halfway point, was redeemed by a snack bar and rest area with real logs burning in fire pits. Real light was also present in the transparent geodesic dome shelters, lit by candles, in the entrance and exit courtyard, where toilets, refreshments and information were also provided.
Do go. Fixed entry times are from sunset to 9pm, and the experience, which lasts around 45 minutes, adds something special to an evening outing. Look at the weather forecast before you go, as rain checks don’t seem to be available.
Favorite