Outdoor artworks illuminate London in Lumiere Festival

Posted: Updated:
(Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). People walk through The Wave by Vertigo on the Riverside Walkway, South Bank, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). People walk through The Wave by Vertigo on the Riverside Walkway, South Bank, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018.
(Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP). People take photos of the artwork light display entitled Waterlicht by Daan Roosegaarde at Granary Square in London, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018.  The Lumiere London light festival was ... (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP). People take photos of the artwork light display entitled Waterlicht by Daan Roosegaarde at Granary Square in London, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018. The Lumiere London light festival was ...
(Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). Westminster Abbey in London, is illuminated by a projection entitled The Light of the Spirit by Patrice Warrener, during the Lumiere London light festival, in London Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018.  The Lumiere London light festiva... (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). Westminster Abbey in London, is illuminated by a projection entitled The Light of the Spirit by Patrice Warrener, during the Lumiere London light festival, in London Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018. The Lumiere London light festiva...
(Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). The Reflektor artwork by Studio Roso is displayed in Carlton Street, central London, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018.  The Lumiere London light festival was commissioned by the Mayor of Lond... (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). The Reflektor artwork by Studio Roso is displayed in Carlton Street, central London, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018. The Lumiere London light festival was commissioned by the Mayor of Lond...
(Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). A person looks at light artwork entitled Supercube by Stephane Masson on display in St James's Market area of London, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018.  The Lumiere London light festival was ... (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP). A person looks at light artwork entitled Supercube by Stephane Masson on display in St James's Market area of London, during the Lumiere London light festival, Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018. The Lumiere London light festival was ...

LONDON (AP) - The dark January streets of London are being transformed into an illuminated outdoor gallery as part of the Lumiere arts festival .

The festival, which runs for four nights starting Thursday, features 50 light-based artworks across the city. Some sit in alleyways or parks, while others illuminate buildings including Westminster Abbey and the National Theatre.

Near King's Cross Station, the immersive "Waterlicht," ("Water Light") by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde makes visitors feel they are underneath roiling blue waves.

Organizers say more than 1 million people attended the free festival when it was first held in London two years ago.

Helen Marriage, director of organizing group Artichoke, says the festival taps into a hunger for live experience in an age when people spend much of the time staring at screens.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.