AS NIGHT unfolds across the four dates of Houghton Festival 2025, the central lake comes alive. Holding fort in its centre is a chrome VW campervan floating like a UFO with lasers slicing mist – all tuned to the ‘love frequency’ of 528Hz. Chris Levine calls it FULL BEAM, but it felt a little more like stepping into a lucid dream.
Across the site, the revered artist’s work are beaming signals from another dimension: HIGHER POWER arching across the sky and LIGHT is LOVE flashing cryptic bursts only available to be seen after you blink. This isn’t just art – it’s a frequency shift.
Chris Levine. Photograph: Michael Fung, courtesy of Chris Levine
Levine has continually managed to spearhead his unique style through treating light as both material and message. Combined with cutting-edge technology, he has been able to shape-shift from stillness in portraiture to expanding perceptions with larger, more immersive work: he doesn’t just know how to bend light into something you don’t just see – but you feel.
At Houghton, the brain-child of Craig Richards, his installations managed to merge with the rave’s pulse, the forest’s breath and the crowd’s collective high to bring an extraterrorestrial feeling to Norfolk. GLASS caught up him to find out why the brightest art has the ability to slow you down to stillness.
You’ve said “light is the fastest thing in the universe,” but also one of the most meditative. What draws you to light as both medium and metaphor?
Light is something we all too often take for granted, but it’s fundamental to how things work in life, the universe and everything. Einstein said we are compressed Light. To tune into and become more aware of Light is to connect deeper with life itself.
Some of your most famous pieces of work have been capturing leading figures like Queen Elizabeth II and the Dalai Lama. What were the most unexpected or profound moments from working with public figures?
No one is more surprised than me as to how I’ve got to connect so intimately with some of the world’s most iconic figures and how their sittings came about give me goosebumps sometimes. I’m just channeling something. But in my interactions with these leaders it’s clear that we’re all human and connected as one through our souls.
Light artist Chris Levine debuts ‘Full Beam’ at Houghton Festival in Norfolk, 7th -10th August 2025 © Photograph: Sienna Lorraine Gray | Khroma Collective
Your practice extends far beyond portraiture into large‐scale light installations. What made you decide to showcase these in a festival environment, and why Houghton?
I feel a close connection to Houghton Hall and am grateful for the platform that David, Lord Cholmondeley gave me to express myself .After my invitation by the Eavises to do something large-scale at Glastonbury in 2020 – to mark the 50th anniversary of the festival – was sadly cancelled at the last minute due to the pandemic, I thought, “I’m done with festivals.” Too noisy and chaotic to take people into the inviting realm of stillness[!]”. But when Craig Richards and David invited me, I couldn’t say no…maybe one last festival, let’s do it.
How did you approach designing work specifically for the Houghton Festival context, where sound, nature, movement, and altered states already co-exist? How do you navigate that duality as an artist?
All those factors make for a really fertile setting to create some magic. Everything I’m doing, three pieces all in a way connected, just seemed to flow, to manifest, quite naturally. It’s a beautiful setting and the audience is receptive to good and higher vibrations. Really, I’m experimenting with my art form and excited myself to see where it’s going to go over the weekend. The sensory dials are set.
Your earlier Houghton Hall solo exhibition was meditative and reverent. This seems more playful and surreal. How has your approach evolved since 2021?
For sure – this work will operate at a different level, and the fun factor is being dialled up. Expect the unexpected. At its core however – My work is still all about taking people into a meditative space.
Light artist Chris Levine debuts ‘Full Beam’ at Houghton Festival in Norfolk, 7th -10th August 2025 © Photograph: Jake Davis | Khroma Collective
Light artist Chris Levine debuts ‘Full Beam’ at Houghton Festival in Norfolk, 7th -10th August 2025 © Photograph: Jake Davis | Khroma Collective
“FULL BEAM” places a chromed VW camper-van at the centre of a lake, drenched in laser light. What’s the story behind this surreal image – and why that symbol, in that setting?
I first suggested it to Craig and the team only half seriously, as soon as it came out my mouth ‘lets float the van on the lake ha ha’ I knew the scene was set. A ridiculous and absurd idea, but we all felt it was brilliant. I wanted to do it to experience it myself. It felt right to use the camper as it was featured in my show at Houghton Hall – but not like this. This is very experiMENTAL.
What words or messages are being shown in LIGHT IS LOVE – and how do you hope they land in a space of dance and movement?
This medium, we call it a blipvert, projects imagery into the viewer’s peripheral vision. Only perceptible in the present moment of Now. The world as it is right now, and with all the fear and uncertainty, the message is LOVE. NOW.
The imagery in the blipvert only really comes alive through movement – dancing is a great way to experience it fully. It’s not something you just look at; it’s a full sensory experience. I think Light is Love will take what’s already a heightened environment and turn it into something unforgettable. A kind of meditation through movement.
Is LIGHT IS LOVE an invitation to pay closer attention- or to let go and feel?
Great question…truly the work is working if it is heart felt. The mind can catch up later.
Light artist Chris Levine debuts ‘Full Beam’ at Houghton Festival in Norfolk, 7th -10th August 2025 © Photograph: Jake Davis | Khroma Collective
Craig Richards called Houghton a “living canvas.” As someone who bridges light and consciousness, how do you see the role of art at a music festival like this?
To go to a festival is to take time out from the day to day, to be connected with lots of people and enjoy yourself. I see my art as a way to transport people out of the ordinary — to create some sensorial hits that add to the overall feelings of a good time. A really good time!!
Art & Music by nature are collaborative – and in a setting like Houghton, that collaboration is with the space, the sound, the people, the energy.
You’ve worked with musicians before – from Grace Jones to Jon Hopkins. Does the electronic landscape of Houghton influence the way you design your pieces?
I’ve always loved good electronic music, the signals and frequencies can be really pure, like laser light which is based on single frequencies. In the live setting, sound and visuals become a harmonic experience – Sound and Vision, as the Starman said.
The curation at Houghton is next-level, full of real talent and creativity, so any contribution I make has to rise to that. With a great sound system and the highest-powered beams I can get my hands on, we’re aiming for those perfectly resonant moments — when everything locks in, and you just feel it.”
Light artist Chris Levine debuts ‘Full Beam’ at Houghton Festival in Norfolk, 7th -10th August 2025. Photograph: João von Hafe
1How do you want someone dancing at 3AM to feel when they look up and see your work overhead?
By 3am I’m not sure I can take them higher, but we’ll try.
You’ve collaborated with musicians, fashion houses, technologists, festivals- what makes a good collaborator for you?
Its chemistry and vision and open mindedness, can lead to a sum total much greater than the parts. With collaborations the intention with me is to enter uncharted territory. I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some great talent and it’s been an important part of my art.
by Imogen Clark