Vivid set to light up Sydney

The city is set to explode in a kaleidoscope of light and colour this Friday night as the Vivid Sydney festival kicks off.

Fireball blasts that are three storeys high, a giant sketch pad where you can draw your own light art and bands like The Cure are but a few features of this year’s “light, music and ideas” festival, which will run from 27 May to 13 June.

Vivid Sydney Executive Producer, Ignatius Jones, said: “We are working with our best and brightest talents in the creative industries…to show off what they can do, to swap ideas and most importantly to reach out to the public and electrify us with their creations.”

Over 400,000 people are expected to rug up and brave the cold as the city transforms into a creative playground after dark.

“There’s nothing more thrilling than seeing the Sydney Opera House transformed into a canvas of bright colours and breathtaking images,” said Jones.

Sydney-based artist and architect, Joe Snell, said: “Everyone must realise that this is an international event.”

“A festival like this is so important to Sydney. It really is putting us on the map in terms of creative industries,” he added.

Snell’s artwork Embers is one of 40 light installations on show this year. As an extruded campfire, Embers is a reflection on how light “is something we gather around.”

Music fans can also expect a good gathering at the Sydney Opera House throughout the festival, thanks to the impressive line-up of local and international artists.

Curator for Vivid LIVE, Stephen Pavlovic, has managed to secure the likes of Bat for Lashes, Cut Copy, Architecture in Helsinki and WU LYF, among many others to play this year.

But the stand out performance has to be headline act and punk legends, The Cure.

Meanwhile, Creative Sydney and the MCA will host a number of forums and debates designed to inspire, connect and invigorate creative young minds.

“Sessions at the MCA will expose the outstanding local talent from the worlds of music, film, design and visual arts,” said Director of Creative Sydney, Jess Scully.

The number of things on offer at Vivid this year has got many Sydney-siders excited.

Stephanie Wise, 22, said: “I’d love to go…it’s a great opportunity to see all these ideas that come together.”

Lights will be switched on at 6pm every night of the festival around Circular Quay, The Rocks and the Sydney Opera House.

Vivid is estimated to generate up to $10 million in revenue for NSW.

By Vivien Luu