If you’ve been out and about on the streets of Edinburgh in the past few weeks you’ll have seen the city centre acting as a canvas for iconic quotes of the Scottish Enlightenment period and new works of our contemporary poets.

Celebrating the literary and built heritage of locations including Charlotte Square and the Melville Monument in the city’s Poetry Garden, enLIGHTen responds to the wisdom of great Enlightenment thinkers through new fiction and poetry by Gavin Inglis, William Letford, Kirsty Logan, Ken MacLeod, James Robertson and JL Williams, specially commissioned by Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust.

View more images from the enLIGHTen project here.

As well as large scale visual projections, the project also includes specially commissioned animations and audio, to create a stunning, multi-sensory experience for locals and tourists alike. (g)Host City (specialists in innovative, virtual and augmented reality performance), have worked with the writers to enhance their pieces, creating a downloadable aural experience which will complement the visual impact of the projections. This is supplemented with free audio downloads for each location providing information on both its architectural and literary heritage.

You can listen to James Robertson reading and explaining Robert Fergusson's 'Ode to the Gowdspink' below.

City of Literature Director, Ali Bowden said “Through enLIGHTen we are shining a light back to the Scottish Enlightenment period and reminding us all that Scotland lead the world as pioneers of thought. Using cutting edge projection technology, we’ll match the architectural brilliance of our historic city with our world re-known literature, and create a spectacular experience for passersby, both locals and visitors – as well as a focal point for those planning a trip to Edinburgh."

City of Literature are looking for your help in choosing an additional projection for Rose Street for the final weekend. Vote before 1pm on 13 March to see your favourite quote projected onto the city.

Click on the map image below to view more info on where you can see the projections around the centre of Edinburgh.

enLIGHTen is coordinated by The City of Literature Trust working in partnership with Essential. Massive projections of famous quotes from the Period are illuminating buildings along George Street and Rose Street to spectacular effect until Sunday 18 March.

Main Image by Chris Scott. 

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