Sydney’s annual festival of light, music and ideas opens at 6:00 p.m. with a tribute to the Wiyanga, ancestral women who have shaped the Sydney basin as healers, nurturers and leaders.
Set against the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, this event brings to life the rich traditions of the Gadigal people and neighbouring nations through vibrant song, dance, and Language. An edited version of the performance will be broadcast on every night of the festival before Lights On. Also among the free events are the light walks through installations around the harbour. Among them is Hika Rakuyo by the group Eternal Art Space, which is on display at Cockle Bay and presents a reminder of the beauty of flowers, their fragility and the crucial role they play in our ecosystem. Told through an eight-minute holographic light and laser show, admire the story of native Australian flowers blooming across the dark water of the bay.
Visitors can also dance to music from nearby Tumbalong Stage as they view Neolithic, a large-scale installation in homage of both Neolithic-era architecture and our enduring connection and fascination with the cosmos. Using brilliant LED lighting that weaves geometric patterns reminiscent of ancient art, this installation contains strobe lighting. At Circular Quay, LED lighting is also used in Connection by New Zealand artist, Angus Muir, where visitors can wander through a circular ‘forest’ of luminous ropes and press any of the eight interactive posts to set off dynamic patterns. First Fleet Park at The Rocks plays host to Embrace by Australian artist Beamhacker. Taking inspiration from children’s paper chains, a circle of life-sized silhouettes responds to human touch. You can stand between the figures, reach out and touch the silhouettes on either side and watch as a ripple of light radiates around the circle. When the circle is complete, with each figure connected through human touch, a striking light pattern is triggered – an illuminating reminder of the beauty of fleeting connections, and the power of community. All these events are free of charge.
Vivid Sydney will run until 15 June and present a wide range of events that can provide exciting subjects for photography. Click here for more information about this year’s festival.
