See Battersea Power Station Transformed Into A Fire Garden

Ruth Hargreaves
By Ruth Hargreaves Last edited 115 months ago
See Battersea Power Station Transformed Into A Fire Garden
Carabosse at The Mayor's Thames Festival 2009 © Barry Lewis
Carabosse at The Mayor's Thames Festival 2009 © Barry Lewis
Photo: Angell
Photo: Angell

Totally Thames has a great line-up of river-themed events and activities across September, but there is one event in particular that has, ahem, ignited our curiosity.

The Fire Garden is one of the last ever public events to be held at Battersea Power Station before the building closes for redevelopment. On Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September an area around the building will be transformed by French artists Carabosse into a mesmerising display of fire and light.

We’re talking a maze-like garden adorned with burning lanterns, sizzling braziers, outdoor candles, fire sculptures and displays — and then a whole lot of flamey descriptions we can’t even work out. Globes of fire? Festoons of flame pots? Flame-powered kinetic sculptures? It will have to be seen to be understood. Meanwhile, the facade of the power station itself will be decorated with ‘thousands of flickering points of fire’.

It’s designed to be an immersive event, with improvised live music and steam and wax made use of alongside a whole lot of the hot-stuff. Earlier today it was announced that tickets will be issued via a free public ballot, and that ballot has just opened, so if you fancy jumping out of the frying pan then you can enter your name here. A limited number of tickets will also be available on the door, check @TotallyThames for updates.

This flame-fest sounds spectacular and a special way to bid a temporary-farewell to one of London’s much-loved structures before it closes for redevelopment. Just don’t go thinking you’re Daenerys Targaryen (because you’re probably/almost certainly/definitely not).

Fire Garden by Carabosse takes place at Battersea Power Station on 5 and 6 September. Tickets are free but entry is via a ballot, closing date for entries is midday on Wednesday 27 August.

Last Updated 13 August 2014