Sparkling Water: Nordic Bridges dazzle Harbourfront with the chillest artists in outdoor light exhibition

Last January, Laura McLeod, director of cultural engagement at Harbourfront Centre, had a challenging decision to make. She was tasked with kicking off Nordic Bridges, an ambitious cultural exchange led by Harbourfront that brings together some of the chilliest (and most chill) countries to cities across Canada.

The year-long initiative, which was delayed from 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions, covers the cultural gamut with performances, exhibitions, readings and film screenings from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

But she wanted one big event to embrace its partners. “I wanted to do something really meaningful that included as many Nordic artists as possible,” says McLeod. She toyed with the idea of a concert, but wisely questioned whether Torontonians would be allowed to safely congregate inside this winter.

Instead, Harbourfront Centre is turning on the love lights for its partners. Running from Jan. 27 to Feb. 13, “Nordic Lights” will transform the 53,000-square-foot waterfront into an illuminated outdoor gallery each night from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with six installations featuring artists from Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

When McLeod began researching outdoor light festivals, she discovered that they’re popular in all the participating Nordic countries. She discussed the concept with Anastasia Isachsen, a light artist and curator at Fjord Studio, which produces the Norwegian light festival, Fjord Oslo. Isachsen loved the idea, and came on as curator for the Toronto project.

“Even though there are individual light festivals in the Nordic countries, they actually don’t collaborate or work on things together,” says McLeod. “It gave [Isachsen] an opportunity to reach out to her Nordic colleagues and say, ‘Hey, let’s take some of our pieces to Canada.’”

In selecting works, Isachsen looked for pieces that speak artistically to global climate change and sustainability, while offering a sense of hope and literal energy.

“There are light installations that entertain and then there are light installations that make you think,” says McLeod. “And I think these do both.”

At Canada Square, Danish sculptor Hans E. Madsen worked with designer Frederik D. Hougs to create the software that runs “Pressure,” generating colour movement within a squiggly LED doodle. As the colours bounce and collide, one can’t help be reminded of how entrapped many of us feel right now in our own digital lives. “Great Minds,” by Swedish artist Aleksandra Stratimirovic, also gets inside of our heads, with two giant brains that appear to be bouncing ideas off each other.

“Sense Light Swing,” by Swedish designer Alexander Lervik, is a playful work created from transparent acrylic and high-powered LEDs, which sways back and forth in a ghostly way, powered by the waterfront wind.

“Gorži” by Finnish artist Outi Pieski will be projected on the side of the Power Plant building. The work celebrates Pieski’s Sami heritage, connecting Indigenous rights to the flow of clean water and environmental protection. Also at the Power Plant is Isachsen’s own work. “Equinox” is a contemplative video installation combining dance with graphics in honour of her home country of Estonia.

In addition to art from the four European countries, visitors will have an opportunity to manipulate “Control No Control,” by Montreal’s Studio Iregular. The interactive geometric LED cube responds to external movements by changing patterns and sound.

Accessibility and inclusion are some of the key tenets of Nordic Bridges programming. McLeod hired Icelandic award-winning author Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir to write short responses to the works, which will be narrated by actor André Sills, to capture the essence and energy of each installation for those who want to experience the show in other ways.

“I love audio tours,” says McLeod. “When I go to an art gallery, it’s the first thing I go to. I grab the headphones, I want to go and hear everything, and so I’m really excited to see what Kristín does with it.”

While Canada is most often associated culturally with our American neighbours, in reality, we have much in common with our Nordic partners. While Netflix and bookstores offer plenty of ways to immerse in Scandi noir, there will be opportunities over the year beyond Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” to engage with “lighter” aspects of Nordic life, thanks to future events with the Toronto International Film Festival, Art Spin and DesignTO, among others.

“I’m really fortunate to be working with such strong Canadian cultural partners who also philosophically believe in this project. And the Nordics really just want to come here and show their work,” McLeod says. “I anticipate this is the beginning of a long-standing relationship. Things may be starting this year, but the work and the commissions will continue for many more.”

Nordic Lights runs at Harbourfront Centre from Jan. 27 to Feb. 13. The event is free and runs daily between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.