Score by Ed Carter and Roma Yagnik
Location: Locomotion the National Railway Museum
A symbol of connection: steel, steam and shared stories
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 reminds us that although the railway began here, its echoes have travelled everywhere bridging continents and uniting people.
North Eastern artists NOVAK grew up surrounded by the stories and legacy of the world’s first railways. 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 celebrates that global legacy – not just of industry, but of imagination, connection, and humanity on the move.
“We’re delighted to present Alight at Lumiere 2025. Inspired by 200 years of railway heritage, it’s our small celebration of how the North East’s story became part of a global connection.” – NOVAK
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Find out more about NOVAK here
Image credit: Alight, NOVAK. Photo by Matthew Andrews