One week until Sydney goes Vivid; 18 day festival of light, music and ideas brings more in 2014
In just seven days Sydney will sparkle, shimmer and shine as the sails of the Opera House are splashed with colour and the Harbour foreshore and surrounds crisscrossed with 3D-mapped projections for the sixth year of the winter festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney.
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said Vivid Sydney, the winner of Australian Event of the Year, had last year enthralled more than 800,000 visitors, contributing more than $20 million in new money to the NSW economy.
Says Stoner: “Vivid Sydney gets bigger and brighter every year, and 2014 is no different with a spectacular program of lights, music and ideas that is sure to please the crowds.
“This year’s Vivid Sydney Light Walk boasts over 50 new light installations, and magic water theatre will once again transform Darling Harbour, with giant fountains, four major water screens, lasers, projections and pyrotechnics from the French master fontaneers, Aquatique, whose Vivid show is twice the size of last year’s and is designed as a theatre in the round.
“Perhaps the most exciting development for Vivid Sydney 2014 is in the area of building projection, with three international and five Australian digital content houses, working with our three main projection technology companies, the Electric Canvas, TDC and NovaTek, on eight major lighting projects.
“In another Vivid Sydney first, the light and laser installation, Filament Storm, will play out on the façades of five Circular Quay skyscrapers, and feature six high powered 10-watt lasers, plus the latest in giant theatrical lights from the world’s largest lighting company, the Production Resource Group.
“These lights, known as the Best Boy and the Bad Boy, are less than a metre tall, weigh as much as a person and can light an entire skyscraper with a single instrument.”
Produced by Sketch Evolution, with major partners PRG, Oracle, and Laser Tri-Point Rigging, Filament Storm will tower over the light walk and help tie the Harbour to the CBD lighting spectacular in Martin Place which is yet to be fully revealed.
The Sails of the Opera House will come alive with spectacular 3D-mapped projections by English company 59 Productions and French projection gurus, Danny Rose, are turning Customs House into a sequence of amazing interactive musical instruments.
Sydney’s visual content masters Spinifex Group, whose credits include two Olympic Games and a World Expo, are working with Australian artist Jess Johnson to transform the original façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art, while up-and-coming multimedia artists, The Digital Shamans in collaboration with another Australian artist, Ross Manning, will turn the new façade into an interactive piece of musical meditation.
Other new projections include; German artist Heinz Caspar, is painting Cadman’s Cottage with the changing seasons and; the multi-award-winning The Electric Canvas are projecting on the façade of The Star for the first time.
Says Sandra Chipchase, Destination NSW chief executive officer: “Last year 800,000 festival-goers including 11,000 international tourists who came on Vivid Sydney travel packages came to experience Vivid Sydney and marvel at our city in lights and snapped up over 51,000 tickets for an impressive program of concerts, conferences, creative product launches and exhibitions at Vivid Ideas and Vivid Music (including Vivid Live).
“This year visitors can expect an even bigger and better Vivid Sydney experience, with exciting new light installations, an expanded line up of contemporary and cutting edge music, and world renowned creative industries events – it is simply a must attend event so don’t miss out.”
VIVID LIGHT
Martin Place will hit the lights for the first time this year, featuring new installations with a number of impressive technical innovations, transforming the bustling thoroughfare into a gallery of light like no other. Darling Harbour will again sparkle brightly with water shows spanning two thirds of the bay, doubling 2013’s Harbour spectacular. French company, Aquatiques, water show draws upon water jets, fountains and laser displays to paint a creative canvas of beauty and movement on the water.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be the largest and most spectacular coat-hanger on earth, and the water below with sparkle with Harbour Lights, as vessels and ferries light up to join in the fun. Sandstone will shine like never before at Customs House and the MCA, and over 50 light installations will enthral along the Vivid Light Walk.
VIVID MUSIC
A favourite feature during Vivid Sydney, music fans will again be spoilt for choice with an expanded Vivid Music line-up in even more venues around the city. Including, the Sydney Opera House (with Vivid LIVE), Seymour Centre, The Basement, Spice Cellar, Home nightclub, The Argyle, and the brand new event Modulations at Carriageworks (6-9 June), curated by Stephen Pavlovic.
Across its venues, Vivid Music including Vivid LIVE will feature performances from a wide range of artists including
Pixies, Ms Lauryn Hill, Pet Shop Boys, The Liars, Hot Chip, The Luis and the Wildfires, ACO and The Presets, Nicky Siano, Laneous & The Family Yah, The Big Village, Giorgio Moroder, James Vincent McMorrow, Goodgod Small Club, Penny Penny, St. Vincent and Anna Calvi.
VIVID IDEAS
Sydney’s annual celebration of innovation, creativity and community, Vivid Ideas, includes a world renowned program of conferences, workshops, panels, talks, showcases, exhibitions, creative product launches, award presentations and networking functions. Vivid Ideas has quickly become a globally recognised platform for the best and brightest creative minds from Australia and overseas to connect, collaborate and create, and this year’s Vivid Ideas will include 300 speakers at over 180 events showcasing the best creative talent in the market.
Fans of Vivid Sydney looking to attend the 18 day festival are encouraged to leave the car at home and travel via public transport as road closures and special event clearways will be in place.
The full Vivid Sydney 2014 program is available at http://vividsydney.com.
1 Comment
I think this year will be more entertaining because big names in the industry such as Grace Jones and David Attenborough will be featured on the vivid program. In my opinion, Grace Jones personality fits her role on the vivid program. She is wild and free in nature, she is very entertaining and even woman will fell in love with her.
There are also some highlights, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (June 5-6) and Bill Drummond (June 6) of provocative English 1980s pop group the KLF.
There are also lots affordable vivid lights festival 2015 cruises which I book last week. I want to experience vivid lights while cruising.