IT'S TIME to mark the calendar and start planning with only four weeks to go until the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney 2018, takes over the city in its 10th anniversary year.
Now Australia’s biggest event, the 23-day festival will transform the city into a colourful canvas of dazzling light, masterful music and creative and confronting ideas, from Friday 25 May to Saturday 16 June.
Vivid Sydney 2018 will feature an expanded footprint, spectacular tributes to Australian and NSW artists and global creative innovators and imposing large-scale light installations and building façade projections. Exciting new additions to Vivid Light include Luna Park as a new precinct, and the return of a crowd-favourite, Customs House.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall said,
“In four weeks from now, Sydney will be illuminated by our spectacular festival of light, music and ideas, as locals and visitors from around the world join us to celebrate Vivid Sydney’s 10th anniversary.
“Vivid Sydney is firmly established as a must-see global event, attracting 2.33 million attendees in 2017 and adding $143 million into our State’s economy.
“Now is the perfect time for visitors to start planning their trip, and I encourage everyone to take some time to explore several precincts over different nights to enjoy all that’s on offer across the festival’s program.”
VIVID LIGHT
Each night, incredible light installations and awe-inspiring projections will transform Sydney’s architecture and open spaces at precincts including Barangaroo, Circular Quay & The Rocks, Chatswood, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross, Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
This year’s Vivid Light emphasises imposing, large scale installations; from the eagerly-anticipated Lighting of The Sails on the Sydney Opera House and Bangarra Dance Company’s takeover of the southern pylon of Sydney Harbour Bridge for Eora – Dark Emu, to massive light art sculpture Aqueous, last seen at Burning Man, that will mesmerise festivalgoers in the natural environment of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
For the first time, the festival extends to new precinct Luna Park Sydney, with a large-scale projection on the facade of Coney Island. The park’s iconic Ferris Wheel will be lit for the festival following an LED refit, which massively increases the number of lights adorning the wheel.
As Vivid Sydney turns 10, author May Gibbs’ beloved characters Snugglepot and Cuddlepie will celebrate their 100-year anniversary with a charming journey through the Australian bush on the facade of Customs House.
From the bush to the ocean, the magic of water fountains, lights and lasers will combine to take Darling Harbour visitors into a dream-like dive under the sea, while the rooftop of the Australian National Maritime Museum will be projected with BBC Earth and Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II, exploring the fascinating world beneath the waves.
VIVID MUSIC
The sounds of Vivid Music’s exciting contemporary music program will be heard across the city, with a program ranging from international artists in show-stopping settings, including Carriageworks and Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, to the experimental and quirky at intimate inner city venues.
Hip hop genius Ice Cube will heat up the first night of Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House on 25 May. It promises to be a big night under the Sails, with Indie folk legend Iron and Wine also performing, and Fugazi frontman Guy Picciotto presenting a screening of the band’s definitive documentary Instrument, followed by an in-conversation Q&A.
X|Celerate, a collaboration between Vivid Sydney and the City of Sydney showcasing grassroots and emerging local music talent at venues across the city, hits the ground running on opening night too. In Newtown, Leadbelly will host Harrisongs – A Tribute to George, a new show celebrating the music of Beatle George Harrison, performed by Sydney’s classic rock specialists The Classic Kings.
In Surry Hills, Heavenly – a culmination of the time and tastes of Ben Fester, T Mingus and Adrian E – kicks off Harpoon Harry’s epic Vivid Sydney program with a free event in the rambling Cuban style mansion.
VIVID IDEAS
Join the masterminds and collaborators leading the way in technology, creativity and science as the Vivid Ideas program explores scenarios shaping our future through a program of talks, industry seminars, conferences, workshops and debate.
For those who just can’t wait, Vivid Idea’s three-day Semi Permanent event gets underway one day before the lights come on – beginning on Thursday 24 May at Carriageworks.
The global creative platform for pioneering and transformative design will feature a line up including former WIRED Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer of Netflix series ‘Abstract: The Art of Design’ Scott Dadich; legendary Nike sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield who will ‘walk’ the audience through his 36 years of celebrated shoe designs; and New York graphic designer Paula Scher, one of the most important designers of the 21st century.
Vivid Ideas will keep the cognitive wheels cartwheeling when futurist and game developer, Jane McGonigal and Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Kriti Sharma join forces on 3 June to explore the latest in AI, virtual reality and gaming to ask what kind of society we can create with technology.
Don’t miss out: Tickets on sale now
Vivid Sydney goes for 23 days and nights – but some performances are one night only – and tickets sell quickly. You can check out the full Vivid Sydney 2018 program and purchase tickets for Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas events and Vivid Sydney at Taronga Zoo at http://vividsydney.com.
Whet your ‘App’etite with the Vivid Sydney App
Download the festival app to browse and discover everything Vivid Sydney has to offer in 2018. Use the app now to plan ahead - schedule and save your favourite light, music and ideas events, in one place across all your devices.
When the festival begins, use the Map feature to get alerts on nearby events and installations, or take Vivid Audio Tours around Vivid Sydney precincts, light walks and events. The Vivid Sydney app is available for download now from the App Store or Google Play.
[CREDIT: VIVID SYDNEY]
0 Comments