Later this month, Chichester Cathedral will become the canvas for a completely bespoke artwork as Luxmuralis bring the Chichester950 Light Experience to life. Commissioned especially for our 950th anniversary, this ambitious installation of light and sound will lead audiences on a journey through nine centuries of history - but not in the way you might expect.
This is no history lesson however. Instead of following a straightforward timeline, Peter Walker and David Harper of Luxmuralis have approached the Cathedral as if it were a vast, intricate map. Using plans, textures, manuscripts, stained glass and architectural drawings from the Cathedral and the West Sussex Archives, they have plotted a course through our ancient building that is abstract,
imaginative, and deeply evocative.
“The projection work we create is fine art. It’s not a documentary or a linear story, but rather a beautiful, aesthetic journey through sound, colour, texture, and imagery that brings history to light.”
Peter Walker, Artistic Director, Luxmuralis
A journey through light and sound
Visitors will encounter five distinct installations across the Cathedral, each designed to transform the familiar into the extraordinary. Stained-glass windows are animated with colour and movement;
architectural plans evolve and merge; manuscripts unfurl across stone surfaces. The journey
culminates in the nave, where columns and walls are flooded with floor-to-ceiling shifting imagery
and light, accompanied by a specially composed soundtrack.
“Light always comes first,” Peter explains. “It sets the pace and tone, while the music is composed
afterwards to amplify the emotions we want to evoke. The music becomes the final texture of the
installation.”
More than a spectacle
Luxmuralis are no strangers to working in sacred spaces. For over a decade they have created
immersive installations in cathedrals across the country.
Peter Walker, too, is already familiar with Chichester Cathedral. In Autumn 2023, he collaborated
with the Visitor Experience team on Peace Doves - an award-winning installation that saw thousands of paper doves suspended in the nave with messages of love and hope from the local community.
“It’s remarkable how deeply art is embedded in Chichester Cathedral’s history,” Peter reflects. “With
Luxmuralis, we’re adding the art of today to this ancient setting. We always work hand in glove with
the building - ensuring that technology serves the art, not the other way around. Projectors and
speakers are made as invisible as possible, allowing the Cathedral itself to shine.”
An open invitation
The installations are designed to be both inclusive and contemplative. Entry is timed, but once inside
visitors are free to wander, linger, and experience the artworks at their own pace.
“We don’t try to prescribe how people should feel,” says Peter. “But from experience, being
immersed in light and sound in a sacred space can be magical and transformative. Responses are
always wide-ranging and that openness is important to us.”
Some will be struck by the Cathedral’s architecture afresh; others may simply savour the stillness of
late evening as colour and sound shift across ancient stone. For Peter, the later sessions hold a
special magic:
“Personally, I enjoy it most later in the evening. At that time of year, being in the Cathedral
surrounded by people and art is wonderful - and it’s equally rewarding to sit quietly and take it all
in.”
Honouring the past, embracing the future
For Peter and David, working within a 950-year-old building is both a privilege and a challenge. Every detail must respect the Cathedral’s past while serving its future.
“One thing we never forget is that we are custodians of this space for our generation,” says Peter.
“Even something as simple as a shortage of plug sockets can be a challenge - but those practicalities remind us how extraordinary it is to be working in a place of such history.”
The Chichester950 Light Experience is a bold addition to the Cathedral’s artistic story: a celebration
of heritage expressed through the most contemporary of art forms. As Peter concludes, “The art we
make reflects the times we live in…This is another chapter in the Cathedral’s artistic history.”
For one week only, history will be illuminated and imaginations ignited in celebration of 950
remarkable years.
Tickets
The Chichester950 Light Experience runs from 24 – 31 October 2025, with time slots from 5.30pm –
8.30pm.
Adult - £13.00 | Child - £8.00 | Concession (Students)- £11.00 | Family (2 adults, 2 children) - £36.00
Several dates and times are already sold out. Early booking is advised.
Book online or call 0333 666 3366.