Everyone knows about Vivid. It’s an annual celebration that lights up Sydney Harbour with colours and joy. When most people that visit Vivid probably don’t wonder about the history and all its details.
Vivid reflects people’s love, excitement and culture in song and light. It’s celebrated from 27th May to 17th June. Vivid illuminates the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Customs house and Taronga zoo. Vivid is the biggest light-based event in Australia with around 2.5 million people visiting a year.
Vivid began as a smart light festival in 2009 for energy efficiency. It was ministered by lighting designer Mary-Anne Kyriakou and headlined by Brian Eno, in collaboration with lighting designer Bruce Ramus.
Vivid has been going for 14 years, but what is it about Vivid that makes people come back repeatedly?
“Vivid Sydney was much more than a light festival and has expanded into a world-class program shining on a light on all cultural aspects of the city and this year we are proud to once again host world-leading creative talent,” said John Graham, Minister for Tourism, in a Press Release.
Taronga Is lit up
This year Taronga Zoo was lit up by Aboriginal artist Nathan Peckham and Nicolas Tory’s Wild Lights. It included numerous animals of Australia, like the emu, possum, jellyfish, kangaroo and butterfly.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to show that our culture is alive and well, and put it on a platform that’s quite different, quite innovative and contemporary, but still had those traditional groundings throughout the work,” Nathan explained.
Nathan had never been in a collaboration before, and his artwork has been turned into 3D objects. “It was challenging at times,” he said.
“Whenever you work in collaboration, there is a part of you that must relinquish control and creative control to an extent. But with all collaborations, you have to work as a team. I learnt a lot and it’s definitely something I would like to do again.”
The end product was a big hit with Taronga Zoo tickets usually booked out for people to see these stunning artworks. Many people visited the zoo after dark to experience this breathtaking event. Everyone can thank the artists for their amazing work.
“When I first saw the final sculptures, the child in me came out and it took me back to when I used to create art as a kid, and the thrill that I would get out of seeing the finished products,” said Nathan.
The most amazing thing about his animals is that you can see their insides.
“One of the things that is indicative of our art style is showing the insides of the animal, because those representations were used as learning tools for young hunters to show what parts of the animal were used. So that art style, that symbolism, had a real purpose. I wanted to make sure that was represented,” Nathan explained.
Next year? Who knows. There will be new and old things for people to see. The thrill will keep coming to everyone and though people might see it as a fun experience it’s also educational.
As long as Vivid Sydney keeps on shining people will always be there staring mesmerised at its beauty and diversity.
Listen to Syd, Ivyrose and Alix interview Nathan Peckham.
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