Vivid Sydney 2024 has kicked off its 14th year with a spectacular opening night, as the festival transforms Sydney’s glittering harbour, iconic landmarks and cityscape with a showcase of creativity and innovation for the next 23 nights.
The Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival will run to Saturday 15 June, featuring the world’s most innovative artists, culinary talent, contemporary musicians and thought leaders as part of its 2024 program under the theme of Humanity.
The Lights On moment wowed onlookers with over 30 light installations and 3D projections across the famed 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk, highlighted by the Sydney Opera House featuring the breath-taking new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024).
Created by multidisciplinary Australian artist and 2023 Archibald Prize Winner Julia Gutman, with creative technologists Pleasant Company, the projection on the Sydney Opera House Sails digitises centuries-old fabric making techniques into an animated, modern epic.
“The bright lights of Vivid Sydney are officially on,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns. “For the next 3 weeks Sydney will showcase the magical lights, art and fun of Vivid Sydney. There is something for the whole family, so I encourage everyone to come along and make the most of Vivid Sydney this year.”
Staged across the Sydney CBD, Vivid Sydney festival locations and venues include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, State Library of New South Wales, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, University of Technology Sydney, The Goods Line, Wynyard Tunnels, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, and more.
Highlights of 2024 Vivid Sydney program include:
VIVID LIGHT
As the sun goes down each evening during Vivid Sydney, the city will transform with light installations, 3D projection artworks and ticketed events for visitors to immerse themselves in a new world of colour and light across the 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk.
From almost anywhere in the city, visitors will witness a 40km stretch of rainbow lasers emanating from the Sydney Tower, a universal symbol of hope by US artist Yvette Mattern titled Global Rainbow.
One of Australia’s most-beloved artists, Reg Mombassa will reimagine the classic Aussie road trip on Customs House for Gumscape with Road and Creatures.
Celebrated Chinese Australian artist Guan Wei’s signature iconography will transform the Museum of Contemporary Art with Sea, Sand and Stars.
A collaboration between Leila Jeffreys and Melvin J. Montalban, Nest features a large-scale circular projection at the Stargazer Lawn in Barangaroo, spotlighting the ritualistic mating dance of the brolga and humanity’s connection with nature.
Towering over 15 metres tall, PORTAL from Lucid Creates frames Barangaroo Headland with a glowing display of light and atmospheric sounds
The Vivid Sydney 2024 drone show, Love is in the Air, will feature more than 700 drones over three separate nights for another fan-favourite Vivid Sydney spectacle over the harbour.
Dark Spectrum: A New Journey returns to the Wynyard Tunnels in new and fantastic ways to take us on a journey of light and sound.
The internationally acclaimed multi-sensory experience of light, colour and sound, Lightscape, returns to The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
VIVID MUSIC
Exclusive to Vivid Sydney, Tekno Train by Paul Mac is a one-of-a-kind event that will transform a Sydney Trains ride into a moving, sensory sound and light experience.
Pulsating with performances from Deerhoof, Jen Cloher, CLUB4A and No Fixed Address, the reimagined 100-year-old substation Machine Hall will be open to the public for the very first time during Vivid Sydney 2024.
Carriageworks will feature diverse and multi-sensory experiences with an electrifying line-up including Electric Fields, Yves Tumor, Yasiin Bey and many more.
Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House features more than 40 Australian and international artists. Arca, Air, Underworld, Fever Ray, Devonte Hynes, Snoh Alegra, Sky Ferreira, Thelma Plum and many more will take to the stages of the world-famous building.
VIVID IDEAS
The Vivid Ideas program sparks curiosity with new ways to experience ideas through the exploration of humanity, community, authenticity, respect, love and lessons learnt from the natural world – with theatre, installations and engaging discussions just the beginning. Guests include Amy Poehler, Annabel Crabb, Rhoda Roberts AO, Kim Williams AM, Lucy Turnbull AO, Charles Firth, just to name a few…
“Vivid Sydney is the original festival of light, art and culture, and we’re proud to be celebrating its 14th year with an incredible line-up of light, music, ideas and food under 2024’s theme of Humanity,” said Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini.
“It is such a privilege and honour to direct this year’s program and we’re so excited to bring festival-goers a calibre of Australian and international talent that not only maintains the standard we’ve set in previous years but takes the program to new heights.”
“Vivid Sydney 2024 is a must-see, and we can’t wait to welcome all Australians and global visitors alike for the next 23 nights!” said Minervini.
Vivid Sydney continues to Saturday 15 June 2024. For more information and full program, visit: www.vividsydney.com for details.
Images: The Sydney Opera House sails show off the work Echo by Julia Gutman and Pleasant Company – courtesy of Destination NSW | Gumscape with Road and Creatures by Reg Mombassa at Customs House | Tekno Train (Central Station) – courtesy of Destination NSW | Dark Spectrum: A New Journey in the Wynyard Tunnels – courtesy of Destination NSW