Sydney May – June 2016 (15 photos)
This is Part 3 of my 8 part VIVID Sydney 2016 series.
Vivid Sydney is over for 2016. One of the stalwarts of the Vivid Festival is the annual light installation at the Museum of Contemporary Art, this year entitled, The Matter of Painting.
The world seems to be dominated by hashtags these days: #ilovesydney
For the Matter of Painting, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia was transformed into a huge canvas on which the energy of the creative process was playfully explored. The artists created an illusion that the façade was actually being carved, painted, cut and brushed.
Each night the audience experienced a constantly morphing contemporary art installation-performance that gave a sculptural dimension to the museum architecture and changed perceptions of the volume and depth of the building’s mass.
This year’s light installation partnered Western Sydney artist Huseyin Sami and the Paris-based artistic collective Danny Rose.
Sami’s focus is to explore ideas associated with the material nature of paint and the process of making art.
Danny Rose is a multidisciplinary art-and-design team based in Paris that specialises in creating and realising supersized audiovisual shows, multimedia experiences, architectural mapping and interactive installations, including events, theatre, music, museum design, opera and light festivals. They recently received the Judges Choice Award at the Digi Award 2015 for their innovative use of technology and mass audience engagement at Vivid Sydney 2014, as well the AEAF silver Award 2015 for Vivid Sydney 2015.
Now in its 8th year, this is the 5th consecutive year I have photographed Vivid. Each year is as challenging and exciting to photograph as the first.
One should always be cautious of what lurks in the shadows.
Here be dragons.
…..
This is Part 3 of my 8 part VIVID Sydney 2016 series.
All of my photography from this series and previous years of VIVID Sydney going back to 2012 can be found here:
VIVID Sydney page
Etcetera Etcetera Etcetera 
“carved, painted, cut and brushed.” It is amazing how the different light patterns and formations make the buildings not look like buildings, but pieces of nature and fragments of our imagination. That cracked blue image – it does look like the building is about to fall to pieces.
Ah, your silhouette of a selfie, Dragon. I remember you did one too last year…always leaving your mark silently 🙂
Yes, the magic of light and its ability to fool the eye. It’s what many of the light installations play on.
I should do more with my shadow next year – maybe have some large floppy ears? That would be a sight. 🙂
Dragon with floppy ears? Now that will be quite a sight. Or maybe have your camera share the selfie with you 🙂
LOL 🙂
Wow and wow again! What an amazing production, so beautifully shared in your photos. Love the header photo, too. That would really be something to see and experience.
janet
Thank you, Janet. The Museum always draws large crowds to its lighting display each year. Always very entertaining.
Well…your silhouette looks great! Wonderful writing and images!
I always wonder what people are thinking when they see me photographing my shadow. Now I know – several people copied me this year. 🙂 Thank you very much.
Actually, what I’m thinking is, “Turn around! Selfie!!!” 😉
Stay tuned. The face of the dragon will almost certainly be revealed in this series. You have been warned.
Wow! Feels like Christmas!
Be careful what you wish for. 😉
Oh, all you dragons are all alike. All flame and no bite! 😉
🙂
#loveit #beautiful #bewareofdragons
#LOL #toofunny #thankyou
Stupendous, Draco. Talk about ‘let there be light’.
Indeed. They keep coming up with new ideas each year.
I always look forward to the art you bring to me from across the world! With every post I’m more and more convinced that Australia needs to be on my bucket list. I also love “there be dragons.” A few years ago I made family name signs for all my siblings with the quote “Beyond this place there be dragons.”
Thank you. I’m glad I can bring the colour to you. Us dragons are everywhere – love your quote. 🙂
So much color. The abstract designs go well with the buildings. And your shadow…gotcha! 😉
The installation creators can really let their imaginations run wild.
I hide in the light. 🙂
Great captures! How exciting to be on site…
Wow, we get to see dragon at night! 🙂
Thanks, Amy. I’m a shadowy figure. 😉
Cool shadow! 🙂
That’s me. 🙂
Truly, what magnificent sights, Lignum, and you have captured them so beautifully.
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you very much, Lisa. Vivid always has a fun atmosphere to it. The lights can be so attractive.
Stunning night photography; illuminations captured beautifully.
Thank you very much. The show was a feast for the eyes.
I wonder how it felt, if someone lived or worked in those buildings.
The lights can make interesting beams but I think the main interesting view would be of the crowds, kind of like being a singer on stage. If you’re interested, I have previously photographed the projectors in a previous post about Vivid 2013, Lights Camera Action
Amazing photo Draco, they’re really vivid in colors. Fantastic!
Thank you very much. It truly brightens up the night. 🙂
Absolutely amazing. Each year you post your Vivid series and I don’t see how the last one could be topped. These colors and displays are unbelievable and you have captured them beautifully. I seem to have just caught sight of the Dragon’s shadow. Have a wonderful weekend! 😀
Thank you very much. I also wonder what they will do each year, and there is always something new. Happy July 4th to you and your family.
Hey Mr Draco .. Sensational! You had fun didn’t you? 😃
Always do have fun, Julie. Sometimes I have to wait for a few minutes for an interesting light pattern to hit me at the same time that there is a gap in the crowd. It always works out in the end. 🙂
I bet! Love your work …
Thanks again. Hope you’re having a great weekend, presumably in the garden. 🙂
Massive day in the garden today .. Pat myself on the back! Now for a vino 😉
Well done. You deserve a couple of glasses. Sauv. Blanc for me tonight. 🙂
quelleluci psichedeliche anche se molto piene di fantasia le trovo accecanti e fastidiose per gli occhi…preferisco un genere più soft…inutile dire che, come sempre, i tuoi scatti sono superbi!
buon fine settimana
Grazie. Brillano le luci di notte può essere così. Molto piacevole in ogni modo. Passa un buon fine settimana.
That is spectacular!
Thank you very much.
Super splashy Sydney, excellent shots as ever Lignum!
Thanks, Patti. Vivid by name. Vivid by nature.
I’m in awe of your photography as always, Draco. Fabulous pictures that really capture the vividness of Vivid Sydney XD
Thanks, as always, Sandy. Glad you enjoyed being there, too.
Amazing as usual. I wish we did it here in London as well!
Thanks. Every city needs a festival of sorts.
Oh my goodness, I love being able to see Vivid through your blog (and yes, I’ve said that many times). The colors in the Matter of Painting are so vivid (um, sorry). I love the image with the silhouette, which for some reason made me realize that I take for granted your ability to show us the images so clearly and beautifully. Well done!
Vivid by name and vivid by nature, as I say. 🙂 The shadow proves I exist. 😉
bold colors, truly vivid, beautifully captured, Lignum…
and I can see this is the second(?) edition of the Vivid shadow selfie series 😀
Thanks, Alex. Yes, I thought I’d expand the shadow/selfie series. Who knows where I’ll appear next? 🙂
Holy Mother of Pearl! My new eyeballs are vibrating from the colors. These are great shots.
Good to know the new eyes work. 🙂 Thank you.
The abstract art looks amazing on that building!! An encouragement to get people in the city painting maybe? 😉 What a pity buildings aren’t so colourful without a light show. Imagine all those large buildings and tower blocks in vivid colour. Life would never be dull!
I like the ghostie skeletons in the last picture! 😀 Were they on stilts? We had some similar in Norwich once, I found the event on You Tube, I was annoyed I’d missed it, I love bright lights at night, and music. All makes life a little more exciting, especially for kids. 🙂
I don’t know why buildings aren’t generally more colourful. I wonder if it is a maintenance issue?
Yes, those performers were on stilts. They had various performers mingling with the crowd. All part of the festival atmosphere for the kids, of all ages. 🙂
Wonderful pictures !
Thank you very much.
Thanks you give us chance to share your post.
🙂