Vivid Sydney 2018: Get up close and interactive with installations

THERE is much more to do than just sit back and stare in awe at the stunning installations that will light up the city for Vivid Sydney. Many will have an interactive element to them.

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THERE is much more to do than just sit back and stare in awe at the stunning installations that will light up the city for Vivid Sydney.

Many of the major projections scattered throughout the city during the festival, from May 26 to June 16, have an interactive element to them.

“People actually want to do something that you touch with your hands and you get involved in,” Vivid Sydney creative director Ignatius Jones says.

“It’s bringing art and technology together in a way that is changing the way that we think about things — that’s what Vivid is all about.”

Ignatius Jones is the Vivid creative director. Picture: John Appleyard

Here are some of the many light installations with playful elements that will be featured this year.

The public will have the chance to take charge of the 40 interactive pillars of lights beaming above the Overseas Passenger Terminal and Bennelong Apartments from a retro-control deck near Pier 8.

Vivid Sydney 2018: EORA Dark Emu. Artist impression by Bangarra Dance Theatre.

“We give the audience the opportunity to create their own light show to light up the city,” Jones says.

There will be many fun installations to bring out your playful side at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, where you can wander through the Nautilus Forest of colourful spiral-like creations, surf a digital wave at He’enalu and explore Aqueous — an interactive meandering pathway of light.

Vivid Sydney 2018: Harmony Valley, an artist's impression by Edison Chen and Kaveh Tabar.

Vivid Sydney 2018: Fragmented, an artist impression by Mandylights.

Vivid Sydney 2018: Virtual Vibration, an artist impression by Jonny Niesche and Spinifex Group.

“It’s like a maze without walls of pathways that light up when you stand on them,” Jones says.

First Fleet Park will also have many child-friendly light sculptures to enjoy, such as the Garden of Sweeties — an enticing display of lollipops and striped candy canes.

The park will also have the large inflatable Harmony Valley rainbow of peace that springs to life when a human chain is made to connect with each end of the rainbow.

Vivid Sydney 2018: The Nautilus Forest at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Design by Adrienn Lord for Mandylights.

Jones says the festival will offer plenty of great selfie opportunities, such as at the Peacock installation in The Rocks, which is made from an array of colour-changing light tubes.

“When you stand in front of it they spread out like a peacock’s tail,” he says.

See the full program at vividsydney.com

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