Massive Artworks —"The Light" and "Melting Temporalities" — Transform Toronto’s Waterfront for Nuit Blanche

Toronto’s waterfront will become a massive canvas for immersive art and climate reflection when two large-scale projection artworks illuminate the 350-by-200-foot Canada Malting Silos as part of Nuit Blanche Toronto 2026, taking place from 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 to 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 4.

Presented by the Delegation of the European Union to Canada and the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University, the two works—The Light by Irish artist Paul Murnaghan and Melting Temporalities by Canadian artists Claire Brunet and Johnny Ranger—will transform the towering silos into an immersive journey through water, ice, forests and living ecosystems.

The presentation comes during a milestone year for the organizations bringing it to Toronto’s waterfront. The Delegation of the European Union to Canada is marking 50 years of EU’s diplomatic presence in Canada, while OCAD University is celebrating its 150th anniversary, and Nuit Blanche Toronto is marking 20 years of transforming the city through contemporary art. Against this backdrop, the 2026 Nuit Blanche theme, Tomorrow’s Memories, invites audiences to look to the past as a way of reflecting on the present and imagining possible futures—ideas that resonate throughout The Light and Melting Temporalities.

“In this milestone year, as the Delegation of the European Union to Canada celebrates 50 years, we are delighted to bring European and Canadian artists into dialogue. Not only to honour our shared past, but to imagine, together, the kind of future we can  build. Through creativity, memory and a common sense of responsibility, this third OCAD U–EU collaboration at Nuit Blanche Toronto affirms something vital: culture is not an ornament of our partnership, but one of its strongest political and human bridges,” says Geneviève Tuts, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Canada.

“Art can create connections across borders and help us see shared challenges in new ways. Our collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to Canada brings Canadian and European artists together to explore climate change and our relationship with the natural world, while creating an extraordinary public experience. As OCAD University celebrates 150 years, we are proud to be a place where art, design and international collaboration can spark new ideas about the future,” says OCAD University President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano.

Melting Temporalities — World Premiere

Marking  its world premiere at Nuit Blanche, Melting Temporalities (above is a still from the projection) will transform the Canada Malting Silos into a monumental glacier that slowly fractures before the eyes of viewers, revealing forests, waterways, geological formations and microscopic life.

As the frozen landscape dissolves into digital meshes and begins to reassemble, the work reflects on climate change, resilience, transformation and regeneration.

This is the first collaboration between Dr. Claire Brunet, Canadian sculptor and professor at OCAD University, and Montréal-based multimedia director Johnny Ranger, founder of Studio Mindroots.

The Light — Canadian Premiere

Nuit Blanche will also mark the Canadian premiere of The Light by Irish multidisciplinary artist Paul Murnaghan (above is a still from the projection).

The Light follows a solitary human as she reconnects the consciousness of the Deep Ocean with the subterranean forest floor, reaffirming humanity’s entanglement with worlds that exist beyond our perception. Filmed entirely in natural light, with underwater sequences captured on a single breath, the work unfolds as an animist odyssey through water, land and light.

Together, The Light and Melting Temporalities invite Nuit Blanche audiences to consider what we remember, what we protect and the shared futures we are shaping together.

The presentation reflects the shared commitment of the European Union and OCAD University to climate action, as well as the spirit of the EU-Canada Green Alliance, which advances shared climate and environmental goals. It also demonstrates how cultural exchange and creative practice can deepen dialogue and mutual understanding between Canadians and Europeans.

The Light and Melting Temporalities are also part of Silo Nights at Public Pier, curated by OCAD University as part of Public Pier, presented by The Bentway, Harbourfront Centre, OCAD University, Waterfront BIA and The Toronto Port Authority. The October 3 presentation builds on a broader season of Public Pier programming supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Canada, bringing Canadian and European artists and students together through large-scale public art on Toronto’s waterfront.

An additional EU-supported projection on the Canada Malting Silos included the October 2 Toronto premiere of Carnet de voyage d’une particule/Travel Diary of a Particle, a collaboration between OCAD University and ARTS² students in Mons, Belgium.

Technology for the Nuit Blanche projections is provided by Panasonic, with special thanks to AVA Animation & Visual Arts, and the City of Toronto.

EVENT DETAILS

Featuring:
The Light (2026) by Paul Murnaghan — Canadian Premiere
Melting Temporalities (2026) by Claire Brunet and Johnny Ranger — World Premiere

When:
Saturday, 3 October 2026, 7:30 p.m. to Sunday, 4 October 2026, 7 a.m.

Public Viewing Area:
539 Queens Quay West, Toronto (#66 on the Nuit Blanche Map)

Admission:
Free

About the Delegation of the European Union to Canada
The Delegation of the European Union to Canada is the official diplomatic representation of the European Union in Canada. As the EU's primary presence in the country, it works to strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties between the European Union and Canada. The Delegation facilitates dialogue on shared priorities including trade, climate action, security, and innovation through the implementation of the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Its team promotes EU policies and interests, fosters people-to-people connections, and supports collaboration in research, education, and cultural exchanges. The Delegation serves as a vital link between Canadian stakeholders and EU institutions, while also providing information services to the public on EU developments and initiatives. 

About the Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD University
The Global Centre for Climate Action at OCAD U brings together art, design, and research to address the climate crisis, exploring projects, partnerships, and creative approaches that are driving sustainable futures and inspiring climate action through design thinking.

OCAD University (OCAD U), located in downtown Toronto, is Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university. It is a world-famous hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity. Students benefit from hands-on studio learning and have access to state-of-the-art shops and studios for both traditional and digital creation. Alongside a diverse and supportive team of instructors and peers, students gain employable skills. Graduates work in different sectors such as urban planning, environmental design, gaming, film, animation, publishing, illustration, graphic design, visual arts and arts administration.

About Nuit Blanche Toronto
Nuit Blanche Toronto returns for its 20th anniversary on October 3, 2026. The annual all-night celebration of contemporary art has brought thousands of local and international artists into Toronto’s streets and public spaces over the past two decades. The 2026 theme, Tomorrow’s Memories, revisits the people, places and ideas that have shaped Nuit Blanche while inviting artists and audiences to use memory and history as tools for reflection, storytelling and imagining possible futures.