A new piece of neon artwork to “delight residents and visitors” over the winter months has been unveiled at a historic Brighton structure.
Brighton and Hove City Council revealed the Electric Garden at Madeira Terrace during last night’s Burning the Clocks.
Sussex artist Andy Doig, who set up his design studio on Madeira Drive in 1995, was inspired by the plants that grow beneath the arches of Madeira Terrace for the piece.
A garden made up of sculpted glass tubes designed to echo and highlight the existing plant growth, the work will be lit between 4.00pm and 10.00pm every day.
Each tube has been made entirely by hand from recycled glass at the artist’s studio.
The Grade II listed, 865-metre-long stretch of seafront arches and promenade is being restored by the council, who said the commission forms part of a new art programme for the terrace called Otherworlds.
The first phase of the programme invited lighting artists to consider the site in relation to the “otherworldly” plant habitat that has grown here over the last 150 years, and to provide soft lighting to illuminate the area for the winter months.
When the dark nights are over it will be retained and used again in other parts of the terrace, the council said.
Otherworlds… is the latest work resulting from the council’s public art strategy, which was launched in April.
It is part of the first phase of the Madeira Terrace restoration project, which was given planning permission in November this year. Restoration work is due to start on site next autumn.
Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said: “We welcome this vibrant neon light installation, which celebrates and animates our seafront and signals the positive transformation of Madeira Terrace.
“Artwork in this setting will help to explore the fabric of the city, reflecting our unique history, diverse communities, innovation and creativity - key priorities identified in our public art strategy.
“The Electric Garden is a low-energy installation devised to visually delight residents and visitors to the seafront over the winter months.
“Andy works further along Madeira Drive in his neon studio and I want to thank him for this unique installation which compliments the iconic structure of the Terraces. I would also like to give special thanks to Concorde 2 for powering this installation.”
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