Vivid has long been one of the biggest cultural calendar events of Sydney, and after being cancelled last year, it’s returning for 23 days with over 150 events to explore.
Catch some of the 50-plus light installations by heading out on foot and working your way through the main city suburbs The Rocks, Circular Quay, Barangaroo, and Darling Harbour. Make sure you stop in at some of Sydney's iconic buildings such as the Sydney Opera House, Customs House, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, which will all be illuminated with works of art.
The creative festival will include musical performances from well-known musicians including Sampa the Great, who was announced as the first act and is performing two shows at the Opera House. Other artists not to be missed include Flight Facilities, Briggs and Friends, and Tiny Ruins.
The event isn’t all spectacle though, there’s also 150-plus speakers hosting panels, workshops and talks on the future of creative industries and the need for more inclusivity, including panels on female directors and disability in the arts, among others.
While you patiently wait for August, head into town to spot the two giant countdown clocks. The glowing timepieces can be spotted at First Fleet Park in The Rocks and Wulugul Walk in Barangaroo.
10 things to see at Vivid 2021
1. Ephemeral
This immersive walkway of bubble-like spheres will pop up in Darling Harbour. The 200 bubbles are iridescent and change colour throughout the night, they're also choregraphed to a reactive soundscape.
2. Point of View
In George Street, The Rocks you can find a virtual canvas of an artist at work. Watch a ghostly artist apply colourful brushstrokes to create a striking portrait.
3. Vorax
Custom House will be taken over by a 3D animated tale from artist Ho Sheung Ning. Watch the story of a thief who goes on an adventure escaping across mind-bending environments, and then ultimately battling a magical creature.
4. Through the wormhole
Inspired by the concept of Einstein's general relavitity 'wormhole', this epic installation includes light and sound sequences that will absorb your senses and might just make you feel like you've travelled through time.
5. Patterns in nature
Created by students at UTS and overseen by two professional light and kinetic sculpture artists, this installation was inspired by nature and draws on the elements of fire, water, earth, and air.
6. Autumn Falls
Autumn falls is an expansive floating installation made up of large kinetic flower petals that change in colour creating a kaleidoscope of light and colour.
7. New York Sunday
Stop off at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia which will be transformed into shifting visuals of story and colour from acclaimed artist Helen Eager. The light display will cover her expansive career, beginning with her work from 1988 when she undertook a residency in New York and finishing with her latest work that has never before been seen.
8. Dawn
Dawn is a poetic audio-visual spatial installation that feels almost dreamlike and discusses questions around mind, body and soul, as well as our constant search for meaning.
9. Geysers
Geysers is three dynamic lighting sculptures made entirely of recycled blue plastic bottles. They have LED curtains inside that simulate the look of flowing water.
10. Mangata
This suspended artwork was created by a Sydney-based studio and consists of a hand-crafted canopy of translucent fabrics. Catch it any time of day, but it will look the best with rays of sunlight shining through it, creating an optical effect.
11. Gravitational Grid
This multi-sensory installation features a giant metallic sphere that reflects its internal lights to create an optical illusion which mirrors the effects of light bending in a gravitational field.
12. Beautiful Life
Step into this super-sized kaleidoscope and see tessellations of the natural world. Combining imagery with integrated video projections, this artistic installation is not to be missed.
13. Eventuation
This open weave arc-like installation has sensors that pick up on visitors conversations and activity and turns into ripples of light and sound when you approach it.
14. Macula
A spiral tunnel you can walk through that combines sustainable architecture, 3D projection and video animation. This immersive installation is mesmerising.
15. Chronoharp
Chronoharp is a colourful walk-through sound and light experience. The art emulates a harp in design and even reacts to touch, sending light animations reverberating through its structure.
