The Sydney harbour and CBD has once again been reimagined as a vibrant city in colour as Vivid Sydney kicks off its 16th year. In a festival-first, there is no theme for artists and creators to work within, so visitors can expect to see unparalleled creativity across curated Light, Minds, Music, and Food events and experiences this year.
“This year marks the start of an exciting evolution of Vivid Sydney. We’ve expanded the program across all pillars and have opened up the brief for artists and removed the creative limitations of needing to centre around one key theme,” said Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO.
“Visitors can expect a more immersive and interactive experience that will encourage them to explore new locations, unexpected installations, and spend more time enjoying the festival – both after dark and during the day.
“We’ve gone back to the core of what Vivid Sydney is all about which is tapping into creativity, and through this, there’s this incredible platform to showcase leading Australian talent as well as a chance to bring legendary international talent to the Sydney landscape too,” said Sheehy.
Running until Saturday 13 June, festival-goers can experience more than 200 events over 23 nights that will ignite the senses, stimulate their minds, and tap into unexplored wonder, giving both locals and visitors a unique opportunity to experience Sydney in a whole new light.
This year’s program is home to more than 80% free events across both daytime and evening, a condensed 6.5km light walk with 43 installations, projections and large-scale public artworks, as well as the eagerly-awaited return of the drone show – this year, shining bright over Cockle Bay across 22 performances.
Vivid Light reawakens with a stellar combination of local talent and international artists bringing their acclaimed projections and installations to Sydney for the first time.
- Acclaimed UK artist Chris Levine showcases Vivid Sydney’s tallest artwork, Molecule of Light.
- Projected on the Sydney Opera House is Yann Nguema’s Opera Mundi for the Lighting of the Sails.
- The drone shows make an eagerly-awaited return to Vivid Sydney with Star Bound, proudly sponsored by IREN, which sees Cockle Bay transform with 22 showstopping displays across the festival. Alongside this, Laser Lightfall will light up Darling Harbour with free laser light shows each night.
- Our Connected City transforms into Your Connected City, showcasing a select number of lighting combinations submitted by over 400 applicants across Australia and internationally which will be displayed on 24 landmark buildings and locations in the city.
- First Nations-inspired artworks are brought to life with installations and projections including Brian Robinson’s Mythical Mashup: The Graphic Worlds of Brian Robinson with Cosmic Chase – a projection on the rooftop of the Australian National Maritime Museum and Floating Realm – an on-water LED installation, and Darrell Sibosado’s Manawan.
- Sāmoan-Australian artist Angela Tiatia presents Vaiola, a new large-scale light projection on the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
- Stand at the edge of everything, as Spanish artist Javier Riera transforms the façade of Custom House with The Fringe of Infinity – a meditative projection that unearths the geometric patterns and world that underpin our world.
Vivid Music will amplify your collective dreams through sound and song, with a specially curated program of artists from around the globe including:
- Tumbalong Nights which focuses on free music in diaspora communities and First Nations artists, featuring Matt Corby, Mallrat, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Gut Health, in addition to acclaimed international artists Seun Kuti & Egypt80, SHAUN, and The Congos.
- Oxford Art Factory showcases UK R&B sensation RUBII and NYC-based Chanel Beads.
- Metro Theatre will host Xaviersobasesd and Clara La San.
- City Recital Hall will host Soft Centre, UK rapper and poet Kae Tempest, and Daniel Avery for a live performance.
- Carriageworks will have performances by the iconic Lil’ Kim, Awesome Black Block Party, Sydney’s own Alison Wonderland, and Grammy Award-winner Ella Mai.
- Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House boasts a strong line up of contemporary and legendary artists, including Mitski, Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey, and prolific DJ and composer, Jeff Mills.
Aerial performers and musicians reach new heights in Cristal Palace – a free nightly performance on the Sydney Opera House forecourt over the June long weekend, with a gigantic chandelier serving as both the focal point and home to the orchestra, while Patch Theatre brings its family-friendly, interactive light experience, Wonderverse, to Vivid Sydney with sessions across the duration of the festival.
Additionally, the well-loved Vivid Fire Kitchen has a new home in Barangaroo reserve and boasts a significant line-up of culinary heavyweights, while Vivid Minds (formally Ideas) delivers world-class conversations and performances from some of the leading creative minds globally.
“Sydney becomes the canvas for one of the world’s greatest arts festivals, as Vivid Sydney once again transforms our city through Light, Music, Minds and Food,” said Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper.
“From the iconic Light Walk and the festival’s biggest-ever drone show to world-class music, food and cultural conversations, this year’s program gives locals and visitors more reasons than ever to experience Sydney in completely new ways.”
Vivid Sydney continues to Saturday 13 June. For more information, visit www.vividsydney.com for details.
Images: Opera Mundi by Yann Nguema – courtesy of Destination NSW | Vaiola by Angela Tiatia – courtesy of Destination NSW | Voxelevated at Tumbalong Park – courtesy of Destination NSW | Cristal Palace – photo by Juan Robert