Laurence lights up Blackpool again!
For the second year running celebrity designer and television presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has created something really special for Blackpool. Laurence loves Blackpool and the feeling is mutual because last year millions of people loved his Decodance showgirls who lit up the Prom outside the Tower.

So fans will be absolutely delighted to hear that this year he has designed a beautiful 30 m by 5m by 5m tableau which has both a classical feel and a humorous twist. Entitled ‘The Rebirth of Venus’ it has a reference to Botticelli’s famous Birth of Venus, which was painted in 1485 and hangs in the Uffizi, Florence. But because this is Blackpool there’s a whole lot more going on including a 5 minute show to captivate audiences with movement, music (Clair de Lune by Dedussy), fountains and a reflecting pool.

  “For me Blackpool is Venus”, explained Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, “which may seem an odd thing to say but there's a sultry, voluptuous beauty to Blackpool, she's like Venus a real pleasure girl.
“My tableau, Venus Reborn, celebrates what I hope will be a glamorous future for Blackpool. Surrounded by classical gods and goddesses in tuxedo finery my very modern Venus rises out of her shell with a theatrical Vegas style flourish. “I wanted it to be dead classy, very elegant but with a definite ‘nightclubby’ feel,” continued Laurence. “perhaps like a very lavish Christmas shop window something you might see in a festive film or in a really posh store but this is on Blackpool Promenade. “The fact that there’s an actual show will hopefully draw the crowds and get people out of their cars to enjoy the whole magic we’re creating.”

Featured on Laurence’s show-stopping tableau from left to right are the following gods and goddesses Cenes – goddess of corn and fertility Bacchus – god of wine and drunkenness Cupid – god of love, child of Venus Mercury – god of communication (above) Venus – goddess of beauty Iris – goddess of youth (attendant of Venus) Diana – goddess of the moon Apollo – god of the sun, patron of the arts Minerva – goddess of wisdom and crafts Putti or Cupids attendants of Venus (above)

The tableau is situated in Flagstaff Gardens right on the Promenade next to Pleasure Beach a high profile position for this very prestigious contribution to the 2008 Illuminations.

…and Laurence short-listed Illumination designs too!

The panel of judges, chaired by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, met in December and were overwhelmed by the diversity and creativity of the entries submitted from all over the UK by school children, students, members of the public including senior citizens.
There were very different styles along with a wide variety of themes and the judges were very impressed by the creativity of all the entries. One of those designs has now been chosen to feature as a new road section this year - Local Heads by Andy McKeown from Shrewsbury.
An interactive, new media installation offering community participation, 'Local Heads' invites the public to feature in a colourful, portrait-based installation. Visually influenced by 60's pop art, the concept comprises hundreds of ‘heads’ to form a vista of architectural arches spanning the roadway featuring portraits of local people mixed with iconic images of influential artists past and present.

Talking about the entries Laurence said, “These are exactly what I was hoping for. Blackpool Illuminations as a firm family favourite but like everything in life it’s important to constantly renew and reinvent. Last year I was delighted to be able to design ‘Decodance’ so this year we threw down the challenge for fellow artists and members of the public to submit their design ideas for a road section. “We have a modern and vibrant celebration of the people who make Blackpool what it is which I am sure will be a great talking point.”