Newstalk ZB's Chris Lynch travelled to Sydney to see the world's biggest lights festival
Vivid Sydney has just celebrated its 10th birthday and for 23 nights in the cooler months of May and June, the central city is completely transformed.
Sydney's iconic buildings and harbour become canvasses for art that celebrates the beauty and power of light. Vivid Sydney was named the largest interactive lighting display in the world by the Guinness World Records and it's not hard to see why. The festival lights up well-known areas. The "Light Walk" stretches for more than two kilometres from famous The Rocks suburb through Circular Key.
There's plenty of installations to see along the way.The walk finishes at Australia's most recognisable building. Twenty-three colourful digital sculptures light up the sails of the Sydney Opera House from projections located across the harbour.
Vivid Sydney transforms the Royal Botanic Garden into a magical wonderland. Here you'll be greeted by brightly lit sculptures through an illuminated forest of spiralling trees, and other installations that lead you into a world of fantasy inspired by nature. It's here, artists challenge the notion that you can't improve on nature. Harbour Lights turns the waters of Sydney Harbour into a Vivid Sydney precinct, with many vessels moving across the water in a gentle, synchronised lighting display.
Many commercial operators participate. Captain Cook Cruises was the partner of Vivid. This company provides passengers with a truly entertaining night out with dinner, music and sensational views. Back on land, and over at the Rocks, and Perching close to each other on George Street, is 1000 cranes, made from origami paper. The work is based around an ancient Japanese legend of hope. The rest of the street is lit up of course with a range of projections.
