Bradford manufacturer Applelec worked with Mary Branson for over a year on the illumination of New Dawn, with the sculpture destined to be a permanent addition to the Parliamentary Art Collection. The company’s LED Light Sheet product, which uses an innovative technique to create a thin ‘layer’ of light in bespoke sizes and shapes, provides discreet and integrated illumination of the sculpture.
At over six metres in height, New Dawn features 168 hand-blown glass scrolls, each illuminated individually by LED Light Sheet to create an enormous sun-shaped composition. The glass scrolls are a visual reference to the many Acts of Parliament stored in the Parliamentary Archives which restricted and then acknowledged women’s right to the vote. The principle emblem of Parliament, the portcullis, gives shape to the structure on which the glass scrolls are mounted above the entrance to St Stephen’s Hall, rising above the hall through which campaigners walked and where future visitors to Parliament will pass. The title of the sculpture, New Dawn, is inspired by language used by many campaigners who viewed the vote as providing a ‘new dawn’ for women.
Light has special significance in the artwork. With the illumination of each scroll controlled individually, the light of New Dawn will rise and fall over a twelve hour cycle, linked to the tide of the Thames. This ebb and flow of light symbolises the tide of change that campaigners were certain would eventually bring women the vote.
Mary Branson, artist, said: ‘Applelec’s LED Light Sheet has been vitally important in the creation of New Dawn. Being really bright but thin, the light source could be hidden in our structure and so gives the impression that the glass itself is glowing and floating in front of the structural portcullis metalwork. I needed a light source that was low power, and low maintenance, as my brief was to create an artwork that could be enjoyed by future generations. LED Light Sheet generates almost no heat and with our DMX controlled drivers, fades smoothly to give beautiful and subtle effects through the glass.’
Ian Drinkwater, Applelec managing director, said: ‘We feel privileged to have worked with Mary Branson on the lighting for New Dawn, and to have contributed our expertise in LED lighting to this significant and beautiful artwork celebrating women’s right to vote.’
New Dawn was revealed to the public on 7th June 2016 which marked the 150th anniversary of the date John Stuart Mill MP presented the first mass petition calling for women’s votes in the Houses of Parliament.