Evanescent – Atelier Sisu, London

Australian art-chitects Atelier Sisu bring light and levity to London on Blue Monday with their installation Evanescent at the Leadenhall Building.

Evanescent

Blue Monday. You’ve heard of it? Apparently the most depressing day of the year – the third Monday in January when we are all back at work, the nights are long, and we need something to look forward to. That it’s a pseudoscientific concept made up by a travel company to sell us holidays does not detract too much from the fact it’s a bleak time of year.

A good time, then, to unveil a free to visit, whimsical public art installation in the heart of London! Sydney-based ‘art-chitects’ Atelier Sisu have brought their work Evanescent, previously installed in Sydney and Melbourne, to the Leadenhall Building. Evanescent consists of inflatable bubbles made from a dichroic film that resembles the translucent, light-reflecting quality of the real thing. Only these ones you can walk amongst and beneath. It is a sound installation as well as a light installation, and is lit up at night.

Worth A Look?

I visited Evanescent one evening this week. After a long day at work and on my way home from a theatre outing, I was stressed and feeling harried, a perfect Blue Monday specimen. I was surprised how soothing I found the big bubbles. They are large and numerous enough to feel properly immersive, especially combined with the soundtrack that takes you away from the City streets. Warning: you will want to climb inside them if you visit because they look very inviting. You can’t get inside, but nonetheless if you have poor impulse control maybe stay away…

Evanescent builds on a strong tradition of artistic commissions and installations in the City of London. A couple of years ago and starved for art we saw part of Sculpture in the City here. Atelier Sisu’s Renzo B. Larriviere and Zara Pasfield developed the concept for this artwork in the same pandemic period, as a way to communicate the idea of transient beauty and the need to live in the moment. With the cost of living crisis as the latest to strike, a visit to Evanescent is a nice moment to rest, recharge and step out of your daily routine. Perfect for City workers and worth a detour if you’re in the neighbourhood in the next few weeks.

Evanescent is at the Leadenhall Building until 10 February. Open daily 12-10 PM. Free, no booking required.