Client
Artichoke
Location
Shildon, County Durham, England
Client
Artichoke
Location
Shildon, County Durham, England
Project Details
A Journey of Imagination and Connection.
Alight is a large-scale architectural projection artwork that celebrates the global legacy of the North East of England’s incredible contribution to the modern railway. Presented as part of Lumiere 2025 featuring a score by Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik. Born in the North East, the railway lit a spark that raced across the world. From India’s tropics to the Arctic’s edge, railways became more than steel and steam: they became shared stories, carrying the rhythm, history, and identity of every nation they touched. Alight is inspired by how those early lines carried more than trains – they carried people, cultures, and ideas across vast distances. This site-specific projection-mapped artwork at Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham celebrates that global legacy – not just of industry, but of imagination, connection, and humanity on the move.
Project Details
A Journey of Imagination and Connection.
Alight is a large-scale architectural projection artwork that celebrates the global legacy of the North East of England’s incredible contribution to the modern railway. Presented as part of Lumiere 2025 featuring a score by Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik. Born in the North East, the railway lit a spark that raced across the world. From India’s tropics to the Arctic’s edge, railways became more than steel and steam: they became shared stories, carrying the rhythm, history, and identity of every nation they touched. Alight is inspired by how those early lines carried more than trains – they carried people, cultures, and ideas across vast distances. This site-specific projection-mapped artwork at Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham celebrates that global legacy – not just of industry, but of imagination, connection, and humanity on the move.
The Brief
Celebrate a Global Legacy
2025 was the bicentenary of the opening of The Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), which gave birth to the modern railway, changing how the world traveled and communicated. Shildon was the first station on this railway line and is now home to the National Railway Museum’s Locomotion site. To celebrate this momentous occasion, NOVAK was invited by long term associates and producers of Lumiere, Artichoke, to create a new work to feature as part of the 2025 edition of the UK’s premier light festival and as a centrepiece to the ‘Spotlight on Shildon’ strand of the festival.
The Brief
Celebrate a Global Legacy
2025 was the bicentenary of the opening of The Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), which gave birth to the modern railway, changing how the world traveled and communicated. Shildon was the first station on this railway line and is now home to the National Railway Museum’s Locomotion site. To celebrate this momentous occasion, NOVAK was invited by long term associates and producers of Lumiere, Artichoke, to create a new work to feature as part of the 2025 edition of the UK’s premier light festival and as a centrepiece to the ‘Spotlight on Shildon’ strand of the festival.





Our Response
Traversing the Cultural Landscape
While the modern railway first emerged in the North East of England, its influence has since spanned the globe. This revolution has connected billions across diverse cultures, transforming the way people interact and travel. Beyond enhancing accessibility, the railway inspired remarkable engineering and design. Iconic locomotives and legendary journeys became national symbols, offering a wealth of inspiration for musicians, artists, and writers while fostering unprecedented levels of engagement. Drawing on the cultural and social impact of this North East gift to the world, NOVAK developed Alight. This artwork invited audiences on a global expedition, traversing diverse landscapes via a series of legendary trains. A central element of this journey was the original score composed by renowned sound designers and musicians Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik. Their evocative sonic tapestry established a rhythmic foundation that amplified the journey's shifting momentum and highlighted cultural milestones along the route.
Our Response
Traversing the Cultural Landscape
While the modern railway first emerged in the North East of England, its influence has since spanned the globe. This revolution has connected billions across diverse cultures, transforming the way people interact and travel. Beyond enhancing accessibility, the railway inspired remarkable engineering and design. Iconic locomotives and legendary journeys became national symbols, offering a wealth of inspiration for musicians, artists, and writers while fostering unprecedented levels of engagement. Drawing on the cultural and social impact of this North East gift to the world, NOVAK developed Alight. This artwork invited audiences on a global expedition, traversing diverse landscapes via a series of legendary trains. A central element of this journey was the original score composed by renowned sound designers and musicians Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik. Their evocative sonic tapestry established a rhythmic foundation that amplified the journey's shifting momentum and highlighted cultural milestones along the route.

Credits
Alight by NOVAK
Shown at Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham for Lumiere 2025
Concept, design, production and project management by NOVAK
Score by Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik
Illustration partner Daryll Ibbeston
Animation partner Andrew Donaldson
Character animation partner Nicholas Waterton
Commissioned and produced by Artichoke for Durham County Council
Co-Produced by Pinwheel
With support from Arts Council England and North East Combined Authority
Projection partner GrayMatter
Technical partner Andy Coates
Event documentation partner Meerkat Films
Credits
Alight by NOVAK
Shown at Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham for Lumiere 2025
Concept, design, production and project management by NOVAK
Score by Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik
Illustration partner Daryll Ibbeston
Animation partner Andrew Donaldson
Character animation partner Nicholas Waterton
Commissioned and produced by Artichoke for Durham County Council
Co-Produced by Pinwheel
With support from Arts Council England and North East Combined Authority
Projection partner GrayMatter
Technical partner Andy Coates
Event documentation partner Meerkat Films
Other projects
Installation and Exhibition
Events and Projection Mapping
Blossom
Immersive Interactive Experience

Installation and Exhibition
Events and Projection Mapping
Blossom
Immersive Interactive Experience

Events and Projection Mapping
Yarn
Architectural Projection Artwork

Events and Projection Mapping
Yarn
Architectural Projection Artwork
