Noctalgia
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The Sill, Northumberland National Park, 2023

and Tour of Northumberland libraries and community centres, 2024

Commissioned as part of Northumberland National Parks 10th anniversary as a International Dark Skies Park, Noctalgia celebrated the night sky and the changing relationship to darkness for humans, animals and plants due to artificial light.  Noctalgia is a new term invented by astronomers Aparna Venkatesan and John Barentine to describe the pain associated with losing access to the night sky due to light pollution: "noctalgia," meaning "sky grief."  

Referencing an Orrery, a mechanical model that maps the movements of stars, planets and moons, the kenetic light sculptures explored Northumbria’s  ecology and celestial connections.

Noctalgia detailed the plants and flowers that rely on dark skies and starlight to hunt, forage, migrate or pollinate. Withinthe work were papercut recreations of space stations, satellites, hunting owls, night pollinating plants such as Evening Primrose and Honeysuckle, Swallow-tail, Brimstone and  Pale Tussock moths and migratory birds that navigate with starlight such as Redwings, Fieldfare and Whooper Swans. 

The work was informed by workshops with community groups; to read more click here.

Sound design by Nick John Williams

Orrery Construction by Jona Aal

Photography by Bec Hughes, Videography by Ben Holden

Commissioned by Northumberland National Park. Supported by the Sir James Knott Trust.