The free festival was forced to close on Saturday night due to howling gales and downpours. The globe sculpture was seen sinking as a result of the bad weather however, the exhibition reopened yesterday evening.

Copyright Neil Morrow

The event’s organisers notified visitors of the cancellation over social media. The Instagram post explained “Light Waves were to close due to unexpected adverse weather conditions.

“The safety of our staff and visitors is paramount, and we want you to have the best experience when you visit.”

Twitter users have been commenting using witty puns to describe the scenes. Social media user, Neil Morrow stated: “Sometimes it just feels like the world is coming to an end,” describing the aftermath of the extreme weather on the sculpture.

Quays Culture UK released another statement the following day stating they had reopened the festival however, The Floating Earth will remain temporarily closed until later this week as the bad weather continues.

The 10-meter Earth sculpture was created by artist Luke Jerram, his vision is to provide visitors with the “profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

Visitors will be excited to learn of the other mesmerising pieces that are featured over the duration of the festival. Pieces including the water ballet, which features ‘twelve synchronised swans that are lit and change colour to the rhythm of the music emanating from their bodies.’

 

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The exhibition includes influence from the iconic Manchester Working Bee. Quays Culture UK said Hive Minds is an interactive arch of light to reflect the themes of “unity and sustainability.” The sculpture is “sustainably sourced, and the materials will be reused and recycled.”

Amongst the collection, visitors can also interact with the Illumaphonium by Michael and Gemma Davis. Made up of over “150 hand-tuned and illuminated chime bars, they respond to touch with their ever-changing patterns of light and sound.”

With plenty more light displays around Salford Quays, walkers can enjoy the artwork on display and explore their way through the festival through the Quays Culture UK app.

Updates about the Floating Earth will be posted on the Quays Culture Instagram page.

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