SPLASH OF COLOUR

NEON BEASTS

The York BID and Art of Protest Projects bring an inland ocean to the heart of York with this temporary art installation - Splash of Colour: Neon Beasts. A place to stop, to sit, to grab a bite, to chat with friends, to sit and reflect, to share and enjoy.

The story behind the installation…

Through Splash of Colour, the York BID and Art of Protest Projects have brought an immersive visual scenery into focus, which relates back to York’s history and relationship with its waterways, using vibrant colours and imagery to create a modern and unique piece of street art. Cast your gaze on the Neon Beasts and their environment from different angles of the mural and absorb the magnificent scenery as you seek out all of the underwater creatures. Sit and relax in the space and read on to learn more about the relevance and importance of the seas and oceans, which have long been part of the pathways of York’s history, bringing in people from far and wide. Come back another day, and we promise you’ll find something new to spot and ponder every time…

York’s long and rich history is evident everywhere you go in the city, from its strong ties to the Romans where it saw incredible prosperity to its strong Viking influences . However, not all the city’s heritage is as well-known as others. The wealth of the city has often come at peak times through empires utilising York as a major trading point, achieved through the confluence of the various rivers, which connect York to the sea and world beyond. . Whether it be the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings or during the mediaeval era, through to the more recent years of the Industrial Revolution, York has taken much of its trade and wealth from the seas. York’s traders collected at merchant halls through commissioning captains and boats to find new trading routes to source goods and spices, which led to a prosperous and bustling city. 

Market street and Feasegate have acted as a pivotal network point, facilitating traffic and trade between the River Ouse and the wider city. This piece, Neon Beasts by artist Tom Lewis, brings York’s marine and exploratory history into focus. Intended for all audiences, Splash of Colour: Neon Beasts is a place to stop, to ponder, to laugh, to photograph, to share, to enjoy.