See the city in a new light and discover art across eight precincts
Every year, from late May to mid-June, the sails of the world-famous Sydney Opera House is bathed in technicolour lights, rising like a beacon in the night sky from its spot at the head of the Sydney Harbour, and flooding tens of thousands of Instagram feeds with its vibrant looks. This year is no different with the return of Vivid Sydney, the largest annual festival of light, music and ideas on this side of the globe, presented by Destination NSW.
Thanks to its buzzing contemporary art scene, Sydney is fast carving out a name for itself as the next culture capital of Australia. The 11th edition of Vivid Sydney, which takes place from now till June 15, sees the city and its surrounds light up after dark with a nightly spectacle courtesy of light artists, music makers and brilliant minds across eight precincts, including The Rocks, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Chatswood and Luna Park Sydney.
If it has been a while since you were last in the city, then a trip is definitely in order, and may we suggest with the Tatlings in tow, for Vivid Sydney 2019 has something to find favour with everyone, both young and young at heart. Here are our picks from what the festival has to offer.
One of the the best ways to get quickly acquainted with Vivid Sydney is through the Light Walk, and this year’s edition features over 50 installations and projections created by more than 100 artists and collaborators.
With a route that stretches for more than 3km, we suggest you start at the iconic Argyle Cut in The Rocks, which is illuminated with Pixar characters including Woody and Buzz Lightyear, before making your way around Circular Quay to the Sydney Opera House, where LA-based artist Andrew Thomas Huang presents a hypnotic tribute to Australia’s native plants and flowers with Austral Flora Ballet, using the opera house’s majestic silhouette as his canvas.
Then, make your way to the Royal Botanic Garden and embrace your inner child with the retro-futuristic contraption, KA3233, which reacts to sounds and space, and the mesmerising Firefly Field installation. Make sure to stop at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Customs House along the way.