Vivid 2019: Artist behind Opera House projection had never seen the sails before
The Opera House burst into life this evening in a display of Australian flora to celebrate the opening of Vivid 2019.
Los Angeles artist Andrew Thomas Huang created the artwork, which combines floral imagery with motion-captured movement from a dancer.
"I knew I needed to make a piece that was unique to Sydney and Australia and something that was in conversation with a place I had never been to before," said Huang, who had never seen the Opera House before accepting the commission to create the work.
The Opera House display is one marquee work in an event that spans nine precincts across Sydney: the Botanical Gardens, the Rocks, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Luna Park, the Harbour, Circular Quay, Chatswood and Barangaroo.
AdvertisementLoading
At Tumbalong Lights in the centre of Darling Harbour, visitors will see a set of interactive works that celebrate the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing.
The Harbour itself will be lit up by cruise ships and ferries in different colours as they pass through the tiles of an invisible grid mapped by satellite.
In the Royal Botanical Gardens there are 15 different works with "KA3323" among them. The alphabet soup-named work is a retro-futuristic contraption resembling a satellite dish.
Attendees can control the dish with a joystick to hunt for "alien" sounds across the radio spectrum.
But the event is not just about lights. There are musical and intellectual events scheduled across the festival period.
Loading
Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said Vivid – which runs from 6pm each night between 24 May and 15 June – would contribute millions to the state's economy.
"Vivid Sydney is incredibly popular and last year 2.25 million people attended across the 23 days and nights of the festival," Stuart Ayres said.
"With guests of all demographics, nationalities and abilities visiting Sydney for this event, it's important that everyone is considerate and enjoys the sense of community throughout the CBD and nearby precincts," Mr Ayres said.