Let there be light

For thousands of years light has been central to human celebration. From the Diwali festival celebrated across religions through the Indian subcontinent, to the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, to Berlin’s Festival of Lights held in October each year.
Now it’s Sydney’s turn. Smart Light Sydney will transform the city’s nightscape in a celebration of art, design and music in what festival creator Mary-Anne Kyriakou is calling it a globally unique event.
In the spirit of Sydney’s 2030 Vision, the festival, running from May 26 to June 14, will be a statement on sustainable energy consumption, showcasing a variety of greener lighting strategies, including LED (light emitting diode).
“It’s definitely nothing that anyone else is doing in the world. It’s a brand new thing. What makes it stand out is that it focuses on energy conscious design and also the innovative techniques used to create new works.”
The City of Sydney is already beginning to trial LED in some of its streets and parks. The technology has the potential to cut costs through reduced energy consumption and still provide brighter lighting.
The Federal Government will also begin the phase-out of some forms of less efficient incandescent lighting starting November this year..
Kyriakou says that Smart Light is not just an exhibition but a preview of what Sydney with revitalised urban spaces. “The key idea is that public and community are able to experience high technology and new ideas,” she said.
“What comes about from this whole movement is the need to create beautiful night spaces.
“The crème de la crème of Australia’s architects, designers and artists are coming together to create these installations and on top of that we also have international leading light artists.”
Veteran musician and multimedia artist Brian Eno will be transforming the sails of the Sydney Opera House into a giant lighting display to culminate the Light Walk, which starts at the Sydney Observatory.
Also featuring is local street artist Andy Uprock, who’s infamous urban ‘cuprocking’ displays will be illuminated on the Light Walk.
Smart Light is part of Vivid Sydney, the biggest music and light festival in the Southern Hemisphere, designed to showcase Sydney as one of the world’s major creative hubs.