The Art of FIRE

Shiva - Lord of the Dance, 11th Century

Fire is known to artists as difficult to represent in sculptural form, as it's not solid!  However, our new release of the week is an 11th Century sculpture by an unknown craftsman which does just that. It depicts Shiva, one of the most important of the 300,000 Hindu gods, as Lord of the Dance - both creating and destroying the universe. You can tell he’s dancing by the fact his hair is flying to the sides. He is surrounded by a ring of flames and holds one in his left hand to symbolise the world's destruction. Learn more about this sculpture by clicking the link here.

The origins of fireworks

Fireworks have long been associated with festivities like Diwali and Bonfire Night. However, did you know it was the Chinese who invented them way back in the Tang dynasty between 618-907AD? This was around a thousand years before Guy Fawkes attempted the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. It was Chinese alchemists' accidental invention of gunpowder that led to the creation of fireworks. They were used for both military and entertainment purposes, and in time spread across the world - but it wasn’t until the 19th Century that Italian chemists were able to make them coloured, as we know them now.

Don't Miss...

A ‘River of Light’ is brightening up the darker nights in Liverpool this week. The 2km trail along the city’s iconic waterfront includes works by a variety of contemporary artists all playing with light and sound. ‘Rainbow Accordion’ consists of a series of gateways which viewers can interact with as a game, by sending light and sound through the archways. You can view the works between 5pm and 9pm until the 6th of November.