Meet the Light Artist: Sara Choudhrey

Sara Choudhrey will be illuminating Kilburn Grange Park as part of the free, family-friendly Light Up Kilburn 2026 light festival, happening on 27 and 28 February. Her work explores geometry, pattern, and the hidden rhythms of nature, inviting viewers to look closer and see familiar spaces in new ways. We sat down with Sara to chat about her plans for the festival, her creative process, and how her projections will transform the park in our Meet the Light Artists series.

How did you get started as a light artist?

I’ve been working with light as part of my practice since the earliest stages of my artistic career, but particularly during my MA in Digital Arts. I experimented with projections, reflections and shadows, influenced by cutwork material in Islamic art and architecture. I was keen to explore how the visual effects might be more reflective of natural phenomena and real-time movement.

How does your work connect to the Light Up Kilburn 2026 themes of biodiversity and women’s safety?

The patterns I work with involve geometry which is the language of nature, representing some of the hidden structures and functions of natural flora and fauna but also structures at the micro and macro level in the spaces around us. I bring these hidden geometries to the forefront of the viewers mind, where they start to make connections and see the familiar shapes and forms in a new and engaging media. My aim is to celebrate nature, and bring more awareness to the amazing benefits that natural habitats provide for us.

“Light allows us to uncover the hidden structures around us, inviting curiosity and wonder in everyone who experiences it.”

What can visitors expect from your piece at the festival?

Visitors will see intricate patterns made up of geometric shapes but natural forms inspired by the local plant life. They will be encouraged to take a closer look and discover how the classic principles of pattern-making such as symmetry, rotation, and repetition, come together in a harmonious balanced way to create curiosity and visual intrigue.

What materials or techniques are you using, and why?

I will be using a traditional method for creating my pattern which involves divisions of a circle, adding well-known polygons, and then using intersecting points and additional linework to build up a more complex outcome. I will include stylised botanical motifs to show the interplay between geometric structure and the soft lines and curves observable in local plantlife. This method is usually accomplished using a compass and straight-edge. However, the same method can be applied to digital drawings which is how my design will be visible as a projection for all to see and play with.

“The interplay between geometry and nature creates patterns that surprise and delight.”

What do you anticipate will be the biggest challenge of creating your work outdoors?

Light art relies on technology, electricity and somewhat good weather! Thankfully, I will be working with a great and experienced team who I am confident will rise to any challenges before I even realise they have occurred!

What impact do you hope your work will have on the community, and how can locals get involved?

I would love for visitors to learn more about the concepts and references behind geometric patterns, especially those that have become recognisable within the Islamic World and have even influenced major British artists and major architectural sites across the UK. Such patterns speak of a love for nature, a recognition of Divine creation and understanding that we are custodians of the blessings in our natural environments. We should therefore continue to care and nurture these habitats. Locals can visit Light Up Kilburn, come say hello and have a play with the projection. They will have the opportunity to find out more about how these patterns are produced and try their hand at spotting some of the hidden motifs and shapes in the artwork.

“I want people to leave with a sense of curiosity and a closer connection to the natural world.”

What are you most looking forward to at Light Up Kilburn?

I can’t wait to see Kilburn transformed by all the light works and I am looking forward to meeting members of the community and hearing their thoughts. I am sure it will be a fun and playful event with lots to discover for children and adults.

One word to describe Light Up Kilburn?

Enchanting