Luminopolis (formerly
The Synergy Project) is one of London's best events for the thinking clubber. This one-night indoor mini-festival transforms the cavernous tunnels of
seOne with musicians, DJs, VJs, performers, and artists drawn from a diverse range of creative genres. I've been one of the regular Luminopolis / Synergy Project photographers since late 2004 and they are by far the most visually sumptuous of all the clubbing events I've been to.
But they are much more than just another good night out. In a society which generally perceives clubbing as a form of escapism associated with values of transgression, Luminopolis re-invents the clubbing experience as an educational tool, raising awareness of the many crucial issues affecting our world today. Working in collaboration with national and international NGO's, each event weaves these key issues and themes into the ever changing roster of performances, debates, workshops, multimedia shows, decorations, and stalls to inspire action through celebration.
Luminopolis has its roots in the UK's long established alternative and conscious clubbing movements stretching from the
UFO Club and
Middle Earth Club in the 1960's through
Whirlygig in the 1980's (and still going strong),
Megatripolis and
Cooltan Arts Centre in the 1990's, and
The Warp Experience (a 24 hour theatrical play within a 24 hour goa/psy-trance party) at the turn of the millennium.