I was invited to Vivid Sydney last week; the city’s annual festival of light, music and creative ideas. Now seven years running, Vivid Sydney 2015 spans across five precincts where visitors can enjoy the Vivid Light, Vivid Music and Vivid Live programmes through pop-up installations and light shows.
Owned and managed by Destination New South Wales, the festival attracts people from around the world – I was told more than 2 million visitors are expected this year and the festival was crowded and full of buzz when I visited during the first two days. We gathered at Cruise Bar at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay where colour animations painted the Sydney Opera House on the opening night of Vivid Sydney.
The Opera House displayed an animation of colours, abstract shapes and cartoonish figures by 30 artists commissioned to create a 30 seconds (each) masterpiece that dances across the iconic sails. Darling Harbour had boats and ferries dressed in illuminated lights that spelt #ilovesydney and #vividsydney.
At the Museum of Contemporary Art, you’ll find beautiful projections of works from various artists, each amazing in their own right. My favourite? The one with the gnome. A few of us returned the following night in time for the fireworks display at the harbour. It was beautiful!
Don’t forget to watch the Vivid Laser – Fountain Water Theatre, a display of water features and splashes of lights, to further complement the festival. At Martin Place, check out the Drum Circle and Game of Drones, both interactive installations that allow you to be a part of the lights and music display in the area.
There’s so much to see and so many activities to take part in, for Vivid Sydney 2015. To plan your visit, download the Vivid Sydney app on your phone and have it guide you around the trails. For more information, log on to the official website HERE. Vivid Sydney starts from 22nd May to 8th Jun 2015.
Photos were taken using the Lumix GF7 with 20mm lens.