A GLASGOW bridge will light up to highlight the climate challenges ahead as the climate summit gets underway. 

To mark COP26, the Kingston Bridge has been transformed with a projection of a new piece of artwork created for the conference.

Flourish is a new commission by Rabiya Choudhry urging action towards the Paris Agreement goal of keeping temperatures below the 1.5C threshold. 

The artwork was inspired by the iconic Glasgow motto "Let Glasgow Flourish", from the city’s coat of arms.  

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon catches up with climate activist Greta Thunberg at COP26

Initially commissioned as a painting by Glasgow City Council, the artwork has been animated and will be projected onto a section of the Kingston Bridge. 

It represents a large brightly coloured flower with the Earth at its centre, surrounded by a cyclical pattern of flames, leaves and fish, reminiscent of the city’s emblem.

Glasgow Times:

Artist Rabiya Choudhry commented: "I wanted to make an artwork that was fun, and that symbolises hope in the face of the overwhelming adversity we all face now. It’s also significant that the artwork will be projected in one of the most industrial parts of the city. 

“The earth and flowers are recurring motifs in many of my recent paintings about grief and loss and the feeling that your world ends when you lose loved ones.

“We are all facing the potential loss of the world due to the increasing threat within the climate crisis, and we must find a way towards a brighter and more hopeful future. It really is now or never.”

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: All the COP26 bus diversions in place in Glasgow

Councillor Angus Millar, chair of the city’s environment, sustainability and carbon reduction committee, said “Projections such as ‘Flourish’ are a fantastic way for us as a city to illustrate to locals and visitors that Glasgow recognises what is at stake as we work to address the climate emergency .

“Climate justice and social justice must go hand in hand, especially in a city such as Glasgow as COP 26 host. This artwork and its location give us a flavour of the conversations taking place over the coming weeks and the themes emerging from it.”

Glasgow Times:

The bridge features a second tree, developed by Double Take Projections, which will evolve into a Christmas inspired tree for the duration of the festive season as a legacy of the historic climate conference.