Oxford Intercultural Communication & Education Group
Lantern Light Show
What is it?
Large lantern sculptures made from bamboo, silk, paper, glass bottles, and porcelain tableware light up the dark night. A light show consists of thousands of colourful lanterns in different shapes and sizes, ranging from the miniscule to the colossal. They are often inspired by traditional myths or folklore, but today, some are even based on movies and popular culture. Lighting and appreciating the various types of lanterns, such as floating, fixed, held, and flying, is the main activity of the Chinese lantern festival – a tradition that can be traced back 2000 years. On the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese calendar, people lit fireworks and lanterns to pray for a good harvest and good fortune. China is a vast country with a long history and diverse cultures, thus the lantern festival customs and activities vary regionally.
OxICE Light Show
Taking the traditional custom from China, we want to use the medium of lantern light shows to evoke not only Chinese culture, but also cultures from around the world. The beauty of lights and the immersive experience, at a surface level, appeal to people of all ages. On a deeper level, by using lights to portray legends, histories, art and culture, we hope visitors can learn whilst taking the perfect picture for Instagram.
Get Involved
We have partnered with experienced lantern manufacture and exhibition curator - Zigong Xinhai Lantern and Landscape Art Co. to bring the project to life. Zigong Xinhai has held light shows in more than 80 cities around the world and has successfully exhibited in Australia, South Korea, America, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. See slideshow below for images from their previous shows. The project will be funded by us.
We are currently seeking UK locations such as (but not limited to) boutique hotels, parks, and zoos, to host and market the show. A large outdoor space of 500m²+ will be needed, a body of water (lakes or large ponds) would also be great for added effect. If your organisation is interested, please write to us at contact@oxice.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!