See Brisbane’s iconic City Botanic Gardens in a vibrant new light when Lightscape transforms the park into an after-dark oasis of botanical brilliance from Thursday 31 August to Sunday 8 October 2023.
Tickets are now on sale for the internationally renowned immersive experience which makes its Queensland premiere during Brisbane Festival, taking visitors on a multi-sensory journey through light, colour and sound.
The City Botanic Gardens will light up when the sun goes down, becoming a technicolour wonderland designed and curated to highlight the park’s unique features.
The self-guided experience follows an illuminated 2km trail through the city park, under glowing tree canopies filled with colour, through sparkling tunnels of shimmering light and alongside neon roots bursting from the undergrowth.
Visitors of all ages will also marvel at larger-than-life flowers, dazzling foliage suspended high in the night sky and ethereal fields of light.
Presented by Brisbane Festival and Sony Music Entertainment, Lightscape will mark its Queensland premiere with installations that enhance the beautiful natural features of the Gardens and the inclusion of a First Nations-led projection work by local artists.
Each technicolour installation is the work of a different international artist with Brisbane’s Lightscape experience including enthralling pieces by Ithaca Studio, Jigantics and Pitaya.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Brisbane Festival was an unmissable event in the state’s cultural calendar, delivering unique programming and signature work that showcase the city and celebrate the best of Queensland arts and culture.
“Shining a light on the beauty of our Botanic Gardens, Lightscape promises to delight locals and visitors to our state with an immersive and accessible arts experience for all ages,” said Ms Enoch.
“I congratulate Brisbane Festival for continuing to collaborate and partner to extend and deepen its programming, including with Cairns Regional Council, to bring vibrant First Nations-led artwork to our state’s capital as part of Lightscape.”
“The Queensland Government is proud to invest in Brisbane Festival to commission new works, employ local artists, share our stories and drive economy-boosting cultural tourism to the state. I look forward to a bold and bright premiere of Lightscape at Brisbane Festival 2023 this September,” said Ms Enoch.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Lightscape was a dazzling way to spotlight one of The City’s greatest natural assets. “September is the perfect time to explore Brisbane’s great outdoors and experience our enviable climate, fantastic lifestyle and world-class major events,” said Cr Schrinner.
“The Queensland premiere of Lightscape brings each of those elements together in an exciting and immersive installation that will transform the City Botanic Gardens on a scale not seen before.”
“Council is proud to support this awe-inspiring and family-friendly Brisbane Festival event and I encourage residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy this illuminating experience,” said Cr Schrinner.
“This partnership is an incredible opportunity to see music and light intertwine for a unique immersive experience over more than five weeks. I look forward to seeing these multi-sensory sensations come to life during Brisbane Festival 2023 and beyond,” said Chair & CEO of Sony Music – Australia and New Zealand, Vanessa Picken.
“Designing and building a light trail for a new location is always exciting. Culture Creative is proud to produce Lightscape as part of Brisbane Festival 2023,” said Managing Director of Culture Creative Ltd, Zoe Bottrell.
Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said she was thrilled that the partnership with Sony Music Entertainment would enable Brisbane audiences to see, up close, the cutting-edge work of so many leading international artists.
“Bringing to life iconic Brisbane locations with works of scale are key pillars of the Brisbane Festival program,” said Ms Bezzina. “It is wonderful to bring this magical event into this city’s subtropical gardens and to have so many works by international artists featured.
“This multigenerational event will dazzle and delight our audiences and offer a night-time attraction to the CBD. I can’t wait for Brisbane Festival visitors to enjoy this magical and transformative experience, one that has won rave reviews from spellbound audiences across the world.”
Session times begin nightly at 5.45pm at 15-minute intervals until late. Visitors can experience the self-guided multi-sensory trail at their own pace with an average duration of 90 minutes. Make a night of it and enjoy dinner and drinks before or after Lightscape with a range of food and beverage outlets operating on-site.
The Brisbane season of Lightscape runs Thursday 31 August – Sunday 8 October. Tickets now on sale. For more information, visit: www.brisbanefestival.com.au for details.
Image: Cathedral Silhouettes 2022 (supplied)