From leading installation artist Keith Courtney, Kaleidoscope is a mesmerising symphony of sound and light, staged in a breath-taking mirror maze taking over Geelong’s Johnstone Park Forecourt from 13 May to 18 June 2023.
A 700 square-metre mirror maze and installation of glass prism mirrors, Kaleidoscope is a deceptively simple optical device of epic proportions, creating a unique and ever-shifting experience that fuses art and technology.
By day becoming a sparkling crystal palace that transports to another world, while at sun set a colour field of ever-changing light.
Produced in collaboration with visual artist Ash Keating, artist Samantha Slicer, and a team of highly skilled technicians, Kaleidoscope is brought to life by a beautifully haunting soundscape score composed by Tamil Rogeon, featuring The National Boys Choir, fulfilling Keith’s vision of an ever evolving, all-encompassing sensory experience.
As the mastermind behind the acclaimed House of Mirrors and 1000 Doors installations in 2017 and 2019, Keith has an outstanding reputation for delivering high-quality, immersive art projects with major Australian festivals, international artists and venues. Over 120,000 people have now experienced Kaleidoscope nationally.
The multi-sensory and immersive work boasts a local twist given it was manufactured in South Geelong by Keith Courtney’s go-to fabricator Robert Lange Engineering and glazier Menzel Glass. Kaleidoscope isn’t Keith Courtney’s only piece with links to Geelong, with previous works The House of Mirrors and Inverted Crosses for Dark Mofo built here also.
Mayor Trent Sullivan said Kaleidoscope was set to be a mesmerising addition to Greater Geelong’s vibrant arts and culture scene. “Council is thrilled to welcome Keith Courtney and Kaleidoscope back to our region – where it all started for the installation with the help of talented Geelong businesses,” said Mayor Sullivan.
Following the premiere of Kaleidoscope at Arts Centre Melbourne in June 2022 for the Rising Festival, Kaleidoscope became a fixture at the Brisbane Powerhouse during the Brisbane festival, it left audiences in awe at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and is currently on display at Rosalind Park, Bendigo until 30 April.
Now making its way to Geelong, Courtney is excited to see his project come to life in the regions. “Kaleidoscope will contain internal mirrors, luminous glass, and translucent beads of colour. As the light shifts and the delicate tubular structure rotates, the space is transformed into an intergalactic playground,” says Courtney.
Checkout a video of Kaleidoscope here!
Kaleidoscope
Johnstone Park Forecourt, Geelong
Event: 13 May – 18 June 2023
Information and Bookings: www.geelongaustralia.com.au
Image: Kaleidoscope (night interior) – photo by Sam Slicer