I VANA BE at Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights festival

Czech artist Benedikt Tolar will captivate audiences at Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights festival with his towering installation—a stack of bathtubs pulsing with light and sound. This remarkable piece is one of 11 new artworks set to transform Canary Wharf into a luminous wonderland from Tuesday, 21st January to Saturday, 1st February 2025.

The giant living sculpture I VANA BE is the artist's response to the theme of water as a precious resource, connected with the principles of upcycling outdated bathtubs that are emblematic of socialist high-rise housing. The concave shape of each of the 32 bathtubs is a perfect fit for a light and music show.
(VANA means "bathtub" in Czech.)

Benedikt Tolar (b. 1975) is one of the leading figures in Czech contemporary art. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, he is known as an object artist and sculptor specializing in the recycling of everyday objects. Through contextual transformation, he converts these objects into ready-made works of art. His work often explores themes of absurdity and playfulness.

Winter Lights 2025
Returning for its ninth year, Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights festival is free, family-friendly festival showcasing the creativity of global artists, featuring UK-firsts like Luminariste’s illuminated bird in flight and Atelier Sisu’s sparkling Evanescent Droplets in Cabot Square. Visitors can also explore Lucid Creates’ monumental glowing Portal in Wood Wharf.
While enjoying the spectacle, visitors can skate at London’s longest-running ice rink in Canada Square Park or dine at over 80 restaurants, including plant-based Mallow and the newly opened Marceline. Download the Winter Lights map via the Canary Wharf app and join us for this enchanting celebration of light, art, and community!