Mayflower 400:

Towers of Light

Towers of Light was a new project produced by Audacious CIC and led by artist Andy McKeown.

“Culture in Southampton is for everyone, and this amazing project is a great example of culture being used to bring the community together at a time when we are feeling so far apart, it offered an imaginative way to light up what have been some very dark and challenging days for many of us.”
— Councillor Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Homes, Communities and Culture
 

It was designed to celebrate Weston Shore and its community (one of the city’s most isolated and disadvantaged).

It was an opportunity for the residents to create a like- never-before spectacular using nautical flags to turn the sea-facing windows of the estate’s five towers into an illuminated community story. Planned community workshops could not happen due to the pandemic, yet more than 100 residents joined in. When it is safe to do so, the materials from the artwork will be turned into kites through an artist-led legacy workshop programme for the whole estate. Whilst audiences were restricted to residents only, around 13,000 watched the film of the project.

 
Onlookers admire Towers of Light, part of Southampton's Mayflower 400 anniversary programme. Photograph Rachel Adams
The iconic towers of Southampton's Weston Shore are brought to life as part of the City's Mayflower 400 programme. Photograph Rachel Adams
Residents of Southampton's Weston Shore take a moment to enjoy Towers of Light as part of the city's Mayflower 400 programme. Photograph Rachel Adams
Nautical flags spell out a message from Southampton's Weston Shore to the world as part of their Mayflower 400 Towers of Light project. Photograph Rachel Adams

All photos: Rachel Adams

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