Undercurrent:Subway Road Lighting, Barry 2025

Undercurrent is a permanent lighting installation for a road and pedestrian tunnel that connects Barry town centre with the former docks area which is currently being redeveloped for housing and leisure. The project is a collaboration with Architainment lighting and installers Developments Plus. It was commissioned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to make the tunnel more attractive for pedestrians and motorists alike, providing plenty of light for the footway in conjunction with new street lighting to encourage pedestrian use. The twin strips of LED lights project waves of light that travel down the tunnel in pulses to animate the space as the light illuminates the tunnel roof. The movement is created by mapping the lighting fixtures onto video footage that I shot at the nearby harbour as the tide came in. The breaking waves form the brightest part of the pulse as they turn into white foam, followed by the darker water as the next wave builds. The effect is an immersive experience that encourages people to use the tunnel and enjoy the patterns of light.