A moment of wonder, a glimpse of beauty, an uplifting sensation communicated through form and material. ‘Lighten Up’ represents the moment of release of a cluster of balloons.

‘Lighten Up’ is a new permanent public artwork located in midtown Toronto, conceived to provide levity amidst the uncertainty of our times. Seemingly floating above the busy streets below, at the corner of a major intersection, seven massive balloons nestle under a building’s canopy, inviting curiosity. Conversely, another balloon lies deflated on the ground, speaking to the possibility of disappointment, and the moments we all feel overwhelmed.

The artwork is visible at a distance from the urban environment, and is revealed through movement around the neighbourhood. Long tails on the balloons seem to wave in the breeze as the city bustles all around. The balloons remain in a state of tension, appearing ready to float onwards if dislodged by a gust of wind.

While appearing to be weightless, the balloons are actually cast aluminium, highly polished, and custom tinted with translucent lacquer to glow in the sun and radiate at night under the lights of the city. Each balloon weighs over 300 Kg and has been carefully calibrated and secured to the building’s structural system. The fabricator for the project, Punchclock Metalworks, coordinated a complex process that included working with a specialized foundry to cast the oversized balloon pieces, as well as partnering with polishing trades and collaborating with a structural engineer to design the hanging system and connections.

In observing and experiencing the life and activities that surround the vibrant midtown corner in Toronto, LeuWebb developed an appreciation for the rhythms and energy of the site, fed by thousands of people who use and navigate this space on a daily basis.

In studying the expansive canopy of the building, LeuWebb were interested in exploring how the volume of the space and the play of light within it could be translated to people in different ways, from pedestrians walking beneath the overhang, to those emerging from the subway, to those passing by in cars. The canopy is a temporary place of refuge for people, away from the elements of wind, water, and sun, and serving as an amenity for use by passersby.

‘Lighten Up’ represents a whimsical approach to creating an artwork during difficult times, at a prominent location that includes a bustling grocer and transit stop, essential spaces that have been in continuous use throughout the pandemic. The balloons provide us with a way to escape our earth-bound gravity and to fly, weightless and free, if only for a moment.

Technical Sheet 

Official Project Name: Lighten Up

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Client: First Capital Realty

Artists/designers: LeuWebb Projects

Fabricator: Punchclock Metalworks

Design team: Christine Leu, Alan Webb (LeuWebb Projects)

Lighting Designer: Mulvey & Banani Lighting Inc.

Project sector: Public art, lighting design  

Project completion date: October, 2021

Photographer: Doublespace Photography

About LeuWebb Projects

LeuWebb Projects is a multi-disciplinary public art collective based in Toronto, Canada. Their work has been awarded across art, lighting design, and urban design sectors.