British artist Liz West is a household name in the areas of lighting installation, sculpture, and public art, renowned for her wide-ranging works spanning from small and intimate to monumental. By exploring the properties and use of light with an array of materials, the artist transcends the lines between art forms such as sculpture, painting, design and architecture. Best known for combining vibrant colours and light, the artist recently collaborated with formallighting to create her latest art piece. A large-scale art installation graces the main artery of the new St. Michael’s development in the centre of Manchester, UK.
Double Fizz, Endless Hues
The immersive art piece entitled Double Fizz consists of thousands of triangular stripes made of polyester vinyl. Vibrantly colored vertical stripes overlay a mirrored surface to create an abundant combination of reflected shades. The installation creates a new space inside the building that can be used for exploration and discovery. By representing the physical and metaphorical line that divides but also connects colours, people and space, the artwork symbolises a unique meeting hotspot in the building.
The artwork owes its name to the fizzing cacophony of colour, which appears when vibrant and meticulously chosen hues multiply through the process of mirroring the vertical stripes. Once observed from the variety of angles, the visually rich, colourful stripes become softer. The awe-inspiring, mesmerising mass of hues, shapes and forms inside the artwork appears as if it is changing shape as visitors walk through the space.
The Permanent Expression of Light and Colour
The permanent installation, integrated into the building for the long term, reduces carbon impact by eliminating the need for dismantling and transportation, typically associated with temporary installations. The choice of materials is deliberate: polyester vinyl stripes applied to mirrored surfaces ensure durability and longevity in a high-traffic environment. Their ability to endure continuous public use while preserving vibrant hues over long periods of time reduces the need for frequent maintenance and replacement. The installation is equipped with eco-friendly lighting, further lowering energy consumption. Beyond celebrating colour and light, Double Fizz serves as a focal point for the local community.
Liz West x formallighting
A Milano-based, family-owned company, formalighting has illuminated venues for over 50 years and two generations. Established in the late 1960s as a UK distributor of Italian lighting, the company has, over time, become an international powerhouse with offices in the USA, Japan, India, Australia, and the Middle East.
Formalighting was the first in Europe to manufacture in its own ISO-certified, 8,000 sq ft production facility in China. The company invests heavily in LEDs, evolving optics, and disruptive technology, and is best known for its award-winning MOTOLUX luminaires, offering a wide range of controls and digital management solutions. This is the first collaboration between the Italian brand and the famed UK artist. Playful and immersive, permanent art installation, Double Fizz, won a LIT Lighting Design Awards 2025 in the Light Art Project category.
Photo Credits: Charles Emerson
