An invitation to explore the 'secret labyrinths’ beneath the streets of London, by torchlight. Take an illuminating art journey, through the history of subterranean London. The Exhibition, with over 50 artists, re-creates many of London’s underground secrets, with illuminating art, props and historical information on these hidden underground gems of our city. Find out the secret doors which unfold vast vaults and tunnels.

Illumini Event 2010 will be held in an underground rustic location in London, and promises to be an exciting and historical look into the history of the secret underground city. The old rustic subterranean dark labyrinth, with its many rooms, alleyways and cells, will be transformed by artists’ and prop makers into several areas of historical underground London, e.g: World War bunkers, disused stations, crypts, historical waterways and many more, the long-forgotten hidden secrets of London.

Free Grand Opening night

The event will start with a grand opening night, which you are invited to with free entertainment; where everyone is welcome. Live acts: stilt walkers, light shows, magicians, illuminating dancers, tarot reading, travel back in time with historical costumed performers, and much more. We hope to see you there. Please arrive early to avoid queues. Opening night Thursday 9th sept 2010 Free 6pm-10pm

Richard Standings Art Installation demonstrated on the opening night
Catrina Osbourne as Miss Havisham & Tiina Tuomisto LED light performance
The Circus Company will amaze the audience with their spectacular LED juggling light show, bring a camera to get some great pics

Book your place now for tours & talk
During the event there will be free workshops, talks about secrets that are hidden in London’s underground by a number of special guests: from authors, historians and museums and even Subterranean tours, with venues being opened to the public for this event only. These include The Grand entrance hall of Brunel's Thames Tunnel, where Illumini will present artists, Genetic Moo to be the first artists to exhibit in this unique space for over 140 years, with their light installation. Another Tour will include a torch lit tour of Shoreditch Church Crypt, known as Shakespeares church. Also including a tour on street level, that shows hidden secret doors and entrances to underground gems. There will also be talks on the occult history of London, and ghosts that explore the vaults at night. Hurry to book your place now. To view the event program look at the panel on the right or please Click here .

Special event: Sat 11th Sept & Sun 12 th Sept Tours of the Grand Entrance Hall of The Thames Tunnel Tickets £5

Description of tour of shaft or Grand Entrance Hall
Crawl through a short tunnel to descend by temporary staircase into a subterranean amphitheatre, half the size of Shakespeare's Globe, but hidden underground. The Grand Entrance Hall once echoed to the sound of fairground entertainers but for 140 years has lain forgotten and entirely inaccessible. Illumini will present artists Genetic Moo, who will be the first artist’s to exhibit in this space for over 140 years, with their light installation ‘Animacules-the drop of water'. To fundraise for the re-opening, the Brunel Museum is organising tours on Sat & sun 11th & 12th Sept 2010.
Tickets cost £5 and include admission to the Museum. Tours leave 17.00 & 18.00 on Saturday 11 th and hourly 12.00 to 16.00 Sunday 12 th Sept.
No need to book, just turn up on the day

'Animacules- the drop of water' by Genetic Moo at The Grand Entrance of the Thames Tunnel

In the sweltering summer of 1858, the stench of sewage from the polluted Thames drove Parliament to improve London's primitive system of sanitation. The Times called the crisis "The Great Stink". The quality of the water was so low that it inspired a cartoon entitled "MONSTER SOUP commonly called THAMES WATER," which recalled the work of Dutch Scientist Van Leeuwenhoek. He was a microscope builder and was the first to see what he called animalcules (microorganisms) in drops of pond water. In the cartoon the animalcules had now turned into "hydras and gorgons and chimeras dire".

Free Creative talks & Workshops

Illumini also wanted to provide a free service to creative individuals, by offering free artist talks and creative workshops and has invited many well known art organisations to provide informative service at Illumini. Click here for more details and booking details.

Mobile Phone application that takes you on your own tour of Subterranean London

You can even take your own personal tour, by using a clever application for mobile phones, designed by Illumini Artists’ Martin Rieser & collaborating artists Ximena Alarcon & Kasia Molga. 'Riverians' uses GPS and QR code reading. With this application, you can discover the hidden underground world which corresponds to real underground locations in Shoreditch – aligned with the sites of past events such as the Ripper murders – and then use the Riverain's overheard tales to map those sites and find clues and directions to others. All on your own mobile!

Discover underground London on your mobile phone Sun 12th 1pm Free

Talk from the creator of Riverians, where you can even take your own personal tour of subterranean London with this clever application, Using GPS and QR code reading, participants can use their mobile phone like a douser, to discover this hidden underground world, which will correspond to real underground locations in Shoreditch, aligned with the sites of past events, and, then use the Riverain's overheard tales to map those sites and find clues and directions to others. One can participate as a team or an individual.

For a full list of artists and performers please click here
A selection of some performers on the opening night

The Grymm Tooms travelling Museum, magic lantern display on the opening night

Sponsors & Supporters: Arts Council England funded by National Lottery, The British Postal Museum & Archives, Britain at War Experience, The Brunel Museum, Imperial War Museum: Churchill War Museum, iCatchers, Energizer, Lee Filters, The London Dungeons and TOMPS

Founder /Curater: Jane Webb
www.illuminievent.co.uk
Email: illumini@hotmail.co.uk