BRINGING VIVID SYDNEY TO LIFE
It takes much more than flicking a switch to bring to life Vivid Sydney, a winter festival of light, music, ideas and food.
WORDS Shaney Hudson
Come nightfall, there’s something about the dance between light and water. Refracted by movement and contrasted by darkness, the effect of these reflections on the eye create a dynamic, dreamlike sensation that captures the soul. This is the secret of Vivid Sydney’s success, turning a festival of light, music, ideas and food into a weeks-long celebration of creativity, culture and cuisine. The numbers tell an impressive story: over 23 days, the 2023 edition attracted 3.28 million visitors and generated $206 million in visitor spending. What started in 2009 as a series of light projections on key Sydney (Warrane) landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, has now become a phenomenon attracting visitors from around the world. Making it all come together, however, is no easy feat.
TECHNOLOGY AND TEAMWORK
“While the planning process is all year round, installation and logistics begin weeks ahead of Lights On,” says Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini. “There’s an extraordinary team of production crew working around the clock to transform Sydney into a canvas of light and creativity for the millions set to visit over 23 nights.” This includes coordinating 72 event management plans, 280 traffic plans, and 3,500 operational staff and volunteers. More than 12 kilometres of temporary fencing to manage the crowds, alongside nearly 9,000 square meters of event flooring throughout the city. More than 8 kilometres of fibre optic cable bring the installations and projections to life. “What visitors see is artistic brilliance, but behind the scenes is a remarkable feat of logistics and teamwork,” says Minevini. “It truly takes a village to create and execute Australia’s biggest event.”
INTO THE LIGHT
Vivid has four ‘pillars’: light, music, ideas and food. However, it’s most famous for its light, with crowds filling the city to follow the world-famous ‘light walk.’ Most of the projections and installations are centred around the Harbour and Barangaroo. Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney’s nightly cruises, departing Darling Harbour, offer one of the most relaxed and efficient ways to enjoy the Vivid sights on Sydney Harbour. Whether it be a sunset sail or an evening departure, guests can enjoy their own unique vantage point to Australia’s largest event. All while being treated to a selection of canapés or a three-course meal depending on the night of the week.
This year, the festival’s theme is Dream. “Dreaming is as old as time and as universal as life itself,” says Minervini. “Dreams can be prophetic, life-changing and inspirational, as well as trivial, hilarious or terrifying. These interactions are evident in every aspect of Vivid Sydney’s program this year.”The festival combines carefully curated pieces from light artists worldwide with activations and installations submitted directly to it by local artists. “Vivid Sydney has a global reputation as one of the world’s leading multi-artform festivals and, in turn, a great relationship with many international artists and world-leading projection and animation studios,” says Minervini.
Headline attractions this year include the late Australian artist and activist David McDiarmid’s art lighting up the Opera House sails with the work Kiss of Light, while acclaimed Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjira will present King Dingo on the Museum of Contemporary Art’s facade. The Lucid Dream, from world-renowned entertainment studio Moment Factory, will turn self-portraits into 3D projections. Sydney fashion label Romance was Born will take over Customs House’s facade with their work House of Fashion.
Meanwhile, food fanciers can head underground. British culinary icon Nigella Lawson will present three curated light and sound dinners for Vivid Food in the Martin Place Metro station’s newly opened Muru Giligu Tunnel. Despite boasting several big names, the festival also believes new talent is central to its continued success, with Minervini encouraging new artists to submit their ideas each year through Vivid’s Expressions of Interest program:
“It is also integral to have a strong local representation of artists that celebrate Sydney and NSW. For new pieces that we commission for the festival every year, we work for months alongside the artists and animators to create pieces that are authentic to them, as well as new and engaging for our audience.” This year, Colour the City allows attendees to have their light projections displayed on the ASN Building’s Clock Tower in The Rocks. Each week, 150 entries from attendees will be selected and projected on the building.
A key part of the festival’s remit is keeping it fresh. This year more interactive light displays on the light walk have been introduced. Reflecting Sydney’s growth and change over the past 12 months, new connecting precincts have been announced that use the new metro stations as a means of transport.
Finally, the festival has introduced five new zones, including eight buildings and landmarks that have never before been illuminated. These include the Museum of Sydney, The Bond in Barangaroo, Argyle Cut in The Rocks and Challis House in Martin Place.
It’s a remarkable event that has grown steadily and organically; happily, Minervini and his team have a solid grasp on how to maintain its success:
“We always strive to evolve the festival. The team are constantly looking to innovate and produce events that push boundaries and attract world-class talent, but at the same time uniquely Sydney.”
CANT MAKE IT FOR VIVID?
There are plenty of reasons to cruise Sydney Harbour with Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney – no matter the time of year.
Pass by historic buildings lining the foreshore, including icons like Kirribilli House and the historic Rocks District.
Glide past Harbour beaches and secret swimming spots, secluded bays and crowded inlets.
View Sydney’s historic islands up close, including Fort Denison, once a military stronghold; Goat Island, a sandstone quarry and convict stronghold; and Clark Island, an important Indigenous fishing spot known as Be-lang-le-wool to the local Gadigal people.
Witness the glistening of Sydney’s iconic landmarks and cityscape at night.
Marvel at the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s scale as you pass below the steel construction, spotting the tiny figures scaling the arches.
See the Opera House sails from a different perspective: the elegant white waves giving way to the soaring glass windows.
THE DETAILS
TOUR
Sydney Harbour remains the heart of the Vivid experience; the best way to see it is from the water. Sailing on the Spirit of Migaloo, Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney runs a 75-minute sunset cruise each night throughout Vivid to coincide with lights on at 6:00pm and a later cruise so visitors can take in the festival’s highlights without feeling overwhelmed by the crowds. Year-round, Cruise Sydney offers all-inclusive two-hour lunch and dinner cruises that take in the best of the city.