Exhibition set to light up York

If you think of an arms race, chances are it'll be the military super-powers – rather than moths and bats.

But with a new light and sound exhibition in York, nature's brutal competition for survival is being explored.

Vespertine – which means "happening in the evening" – sees a nightly display of film, sound-effects and music in the Museum Gardens.

"It's about seeing the beauty in nature," said Chris Walker of the project's creators, Bright White.

"And the way animals have evolved as part of the eco-system.

"The relationship between moths and bats, for example, has been likened to an arms race over millions of years.

"Moths have evolved a skill that, when they come into contact with the radar sent out from bats, they become numb and fall to the ground – meaning that they are out of their range.

"It can be brutal, but it is like a beautiful dance between them."

The project sees film displayed on the walls of the Kings Manor, a Tudor building in the Museum Gardens.

Sensors will trigger the visuals and sound effects as the visitors walk around the grounds. Video projections, using footage from sources including the BBC, will show a series of duels involving predators and their foes – including bats and moths and foxes and hedgehogs.

"Unlike some conceptual art, it will be easy to understand," said Chris.

"Some people will love it for its honesty – with the brutality of the images – others will hate it for that."

Bright White, which project managed the exhibitions at The Deep, is a York-based company that produces visual and audio events.

The company's project in the Museum Gardens is part of the city's Illuminating York festival.

For the next week, visual events are taking place in the city centre, which aim to cast a new light on some of York's ancient buildings.

Alongside Bright White's event is Drawing with Light by GaiaNova.

This interactive exhibition, created by the Essex-based arts group, takes place in the gardens of St Mary's Abbey.

Visitors will be able to use an interactive drawing board, which then projects images on to the Multangular Tower, a structure from the Roman era.

The nightly events will also see professional artists from across the world creating designs with the interactive drawing board.

It is unlikely though, that it will have the same thought-provoking aspects as Verspetine.

"Humans live in a cotton wool existence – we don't even like to think where meat comes from," Chris said.

"With this, we want to highlight the battles that are happening every night of the year – including your back garden."

* Vespertine is on at Kings Manor, Museum Gardens, York, until Saturday, November 1.

Entrance is free. For more information, call (01904) 550099