2014 Sydney Vivid Festival

This year’s Sydney Vivid Festival will again embrace Music, Light and Ideas as the three themes.

Now in its sixth year, and owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Vivid Sydney extends from the CBD into Redfern. The 18-day festival features large-scale light installations and projections; music performances and collaborations; creative ideas, discussions and debates.

The MCA Projection takes the audience on an integrated journey, moving from one space to another in a constant flux of movement. Inspired by artist Jess Johnson, the MCA building morphs into an interactive and dynamic performance space, coming to life, changing its appearance, and even seeming to change its structure at times through the use of isometric designs, old school gaming, pop up 3D books and forced perspective. As each chapter evolves we have built drama and emotion through animation and 3D visual effects tricks that will take the viewer on an abstract, emotional and playful journey through constantly changing worlds.

Musical acts including Pet Shop Boys, Pixies, The Presets with ACO, will be some of the music highlights for the festival. ‘Modulations’ will be headlined by multi-award winning electronic pop legends Pet Shop Boys, considered the most successful duo in UK music history. The Pet Shop Boys distinctive multidisciplinary approach to performance has led to renowned collaborations across theatre, film and visual arts. Fresh from performing at Coachella, Roskilde, Sonar and Primavera, the Pet Shop Boys performance at Vivid will be a rare opportunity for Sydney audiences to experience a truly spectacular multi-media concert including film, lasers, breath-taking costumes, and choreography – along with a catalogue of hits, in an intimate and immersive environment. This will be the only Australian performance of their 2013/14 Electric world tour.

Vivid LIVE has commissioned award-winning international artists 59 Productions to create a new projected artwork for the sails of the Sydney Opera House, Vivid LIVE’s most public event. 59 Productions will now take the iconic building on a dramatic journey through time – from the birth of architecture and civilization through to the pinnacle of human and technological achievement.

Boats on the harbour will be illuminated for the first time this year with the spectacular Harbour Lights. Many of the cruise vessels, ferries and water taxis that regularly travel around the harbour will become part of Vivid Lights this year when they are decorated with brilliant LED lights that change colour as they enter different parts of the harbour. These ‘colour precincts’ will be computer-controlled using Intel technology and the latest in sat-nav geo-positioning.

‘Vivid Light’ transforms Sydney into a wonderland of ‘light art’ sculptures, innovative installations and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy so head to Sydney’s CBD this winter and enliven your minds with this spectacular celebration.