Language and Light

Art Language Location (ALL) is an art festival taking place between 13 – 29 October 2016 in locations throughout Cambridge, featuring innovative and experimental contemporary artists, from across the UK and beyond, who use text in their work.

“The Act of Creation” is a collaborative artwork by Zata Banks FRSA and Joe Banks, and is the winner of the Cambridge Assessment Award for an artwork on the theme of “language and light”. It was commissioned by Art Language Location for exhibition at the Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge, 13 – 29 October 2016. Thanks to Art Language Location and to Cambridge Assessment.

The artwork unifies the concept of “fiat lux” [“let there be light”, Genesis 1:3] with that of “in the beginning was the word” [John 1:1]. The philosopher C.W. Morris defined semiotics as “the science of signs” and, in terms of visual semiotics, “The Act of Creation” articulates a message that’s implicit in all neon signs – the association between illumination and language. By articulating the words, “let there be language”, “The Act of Creation” is unique among neon sign artworks in its depth of integration and interrogation between medium and message, since it’s light itself that (literally and metaphorically) illuminates the nature of the play on words.

Copy taken from the Art Language Location website:

Many thanks to our primary sponsor Anglia Ruskin University for their help and support, to funding once again from Arts Council England, and finally particular thanks to Cambridge Assessment for their sponsorship of a major award for a work on the theme of ‘Language and Light’.

ALL2016 will feature an extended exhibition of art around Cambridge and a day of performances, discussions and events to accompany the exhibition and bring together artists and audiences.

Each artist must find an appropriate venue for their work: the resulting intervention creates a conversation between artist, artwork and location. This extended exhibition aims to punctuate the city with a series of visually exciting and unexpected encounters in which our everyday interactions with text can be explored and challenged.

Visitors are invited to track down the artworks across Cambridge, and in so doing, discover some fascinating and lesser-known corners of the city. A programme of supporting events and activities will critique, investigate and articulate the work being shown.

ALL is a not-for-profit, collaborative organisation run by a Committee with help from many supporters. We are delighted to confirm Anglia Ruskin University as a major sponsor this year with further generous support from Cambridge Festival of Ideas, Cambridge Assessment and Arts Council England.

Everyone is welcome to get involved. ALL2016 is the fifth such event, which began with Text&Context in October 2012.