Latest news with #DavidMcDiarmid
Perth Now
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Vivid lights up Sydney in epic colour show
The Sydney CBD lit up for the first night of the annual Vivid festival on Friday night. More than three million people are expected to hit the streets over the 23-day event, taking in over 40 installations and projections spread across the Harbour City. This year's theme is Dream – a vision of light, harmony and a future in balance. 'In 2025, Vivid Sydney invites you to dream big,' the official website reads. 'To go to the outer reaches of your mind, to think differently, without boundaries or preconceptions and to immerse yourself in new experiences and ideas. Indigenous performers at the Countdown til light up, the opening night of Vivid Sydney. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia 'We want you to dream with the lights on, to daydream, to dream without boundaries, to soar.' Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA. Dancers in traditional wear, illuminated by bursts of fire and colourful lighting, brought Campbells Cove at The Rocks to life, followed by a free concert celebrating First Nations pride. Celebrations were kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Hosted by rapper Ziggy Ramo, visitors were invited to celebrate the next generation of Indigenous artists such as DJ Rona, Kaiit and Jeremy Whiskey in a one-night-only music extravaganza. One of Vivid's most highly-anticipated centrepieces is the lighting of the Opera House Sails. This year, it will display the works of David McDiarmid in Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light on the 30th anniversary of the artists death. The projections will act as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom', the festival organisers said, through a colourful and quirky lens – including slides of moving tiled shapes, rainbows and a green eyeball. The sails of the Sydney Opera House will be lit up with the works of David McDiarmid as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom'. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Circular Quay is not the only spot to get in on the action. The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place. Things look a little different this year with Vivid deciding to scrap its drone show and make its famous light walk free. The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Destination NSW confirmed the decision to scrap the drone show, which has been part of the festival since 2021, in March citing safety concerns. It was thought the spectacle would bring in too many people and create dangerous conditions after crows were stuck in a bottleneck while trying to leave the western side of Circular Quay last year. Meanwhile, the light walk – which previously set festival-goers back $30 – will now be free as this year's festival aims to be as 'budget-friendly' as possible. Lights across Circular Quay with small crowds on the opening night of Vivid Sydney. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia Crowds look out to the Opera House. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia 'We are all feeling the pinch in terms of the economy and cost-of-living crisis,' Festival director Gill Minervini said. 'I really wanted Vivid to respond to that. My job as director is to renovate and refresh the festival every year. 'We want audiences to come back time after time, and not think, 'Oh, it's the same old Vivid'. We want to keep everyone guessing.'
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Vivid flips the switch on Sydney in first-night spectacular
The Sydney CBD lit up for the first night of the annual Vivid festival on Friday night. More than three million people are expected to hit the streets over the 23-day event, taking in over 40 installations and projections spread across the Harbour City. This year's theme is Dream – a vision of light, harmony and a future in balance. 'In 2025, Vivid Sydney invites you to dream big,' the official website reads. 'To go to the outer reaches of your mind, to think differently, without boundaries or preconceptions and to immerse yourself in new experiences and ideas. 'We want you to dream with the lights on, to daydream, to dream without boundaries, to soar.' Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA. Dancers in traditional wear, illuminated by bursts of fire and colourful lighting, brought Campbells Cove at The Rocks to life, followed by a free concert celebrating First Nations pride. Hosted by rapper Ziggy Ramo, visitors were invited to celebrate the next generation of Indigenous artists such as DJ Rona, Kaiit and Jeremy Whiskey in a one-night-only music extravaganza. One of Vivid's most highly-anticipated centrepieces is the lighting of the Opera House Sails. This year, it will display the works of David McDiarmid in Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light on the 30th anniversary of the artists death. The projections will act as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom', the festival organisers said, through a colourful and quirky lens – including slides of moving tiled shapes, rainbows and a green eyeball. Circular Quay is not the only spot to get in on the action. The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place. Things look a little different this year with Vivid deciding to scrap its drone show and make its famous light walk free. Destination NSW confirmed the decision to scrap the drone show, which has been part of the festival since 2021, in March citing safety concerns. It was thought the spectacle would bring in too many people and create dangerous conditions after crows were stuck in a bottleneck while trying to leave the western side of Circular Quay last year. Meanwhile, the light walk – which previously set festival-goers back $30 – will now be free as this year's festival aims to be as 'budget-friendly' as possible. 'We are all feeling the pinch in terms of the economy and cost-of-living crisis,' Festival director Gill Minervini said. 'I really wanted Vivid to respond to that. My job as director is to renovate and refresh the festival every year. 'We want audiences to come back time after time, and not think, 'Oh, it's the same old Vivid'. We want to keep everyone guessing.'
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Lighting up: Vivid pays tribute to radical queer artist
The Sydney Opera House sails are being illuminated with an animated tribute to the life and work of Australian artist David McDiarmid, as part of the annual Vivid festival. The seven-minute animation titled Kiss of Light marks 30 years since McDiarmid's death from AIDS-related illnesses in 1995. Through his lurid combination of camp and punk, the artist and queer activist helped pioneer a distinctly Sydney queer aesthetic. McDiarmid's designs became influential during the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, when he made posters promoting safe sex and events such as Mardi Gras. The animation by creative technologists VANDAL highlights his most well-known works, such as the Rainbow Aphorisms series, as well as his Bedsheet Paintings and Disco Kwilts. Friend and co-curator of Kiss of Light, Dr Sally Gray said she had long hoped the artist's work would be shown prominently in Sydney. "David often expressed a hope that his work would speak to future generations," she said. "Kiss of Light ensures that his work and his political vision of joy, hope and human dignity for all is shared with millions." The electronic duo Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour) provide a soundtrack for the projection. Most of the Vivid festival program is free, including a light walk that connects five zones of events around the city. A music program will include more than 100 live performances, with free shows at Tumbalong Park each night of the festival. The NSW government has also extended Sunday trading hours until midnight for many venues in and around the city centre. More than 2.5 million people attended the 2024 festival, generating more than $180 million for the state's economy. Kiss of Light runs each night of Vivid Sydney from 6pm Friday until June 14. Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 The Sydney Opera House sails are being illuminated with an animated tribute to the life and work of Australian artist David McDiarmid, as part of the annual Vivid festival. The seven-minute animation titled Kiss of Light marks 30 years since McDiarmid's death from AIDS-related illnesses in 1995. Through his lurid combination of camp and punk, the artist and queer activist helped pioneer a distinctly Sydney queer aesthetic. McDiarmid's designs became influential during the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, when he made posters promoting safe sex and events such as Mardi Gras. The animation by creative technologists VANDAL highlights his most well-known works, such as the Rainbow Aphorisms series, as well as his Bedsheet Paintings and Disco Kwilts. Friend and co-curator of Kiss of Light, Dr Sally Gray said she had long hoped the artist's work would be shown prominently in Sydney. "David often expressed a hope that his work would speak to future generations," she said. "Kiss of Light ensures that his work and his political vision of joy, hope and human dignity for all is shared with millions." The electronic duo Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour) provide a soundtrack for the projection. Most of the Vivid festival program is free, including a light walk that connects five zones of events around the city. A music program will include more than 100 live performances, with free shows at Tumbalong Park each night of the festival. The NSW government has also extended Sunday trading hours until midnight for many venues in and around the city centre. More than 2.5 million people attended the 2024 festival, generating more than $180 million for the state's economy. Kiss of Light runs each night of Vivid Sydney from 6pm Friday until June 14. Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 The Sydney Opera House sails are being illuminated with an animated tribute to the life and work of Australian artist David McDiarmid, as part of the annual Vivid festival. The seven-minute animation titled Kiss of Light marks 30 years since McDiarmid's death from AIDS-related illnesses in 1995. Through his lurid combination of camp and punk, the artist and queer activist helped pioneer a distinctly Sydney queer aesthetic. McDiarmid's designs became influential during the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, when he made posters promoting safe sex and events such as Mardi Gras. The animation by creative technologists VANDAL highlights his most well-known works, such as the Rainbow Aphorisms series, as well as his Bedsheet Paintings and Disco Kwilts. Friend and co-curator of Kiss of Light, Dr Sally Gray said she had long hoped the artist's work would be shown prominently in Sydney. "David often expressed a hope that his work would speak to future generations," she said. "Kiss of Light ensures that his work and his political vision of joy, hope and human dignity for all is shared with millions." The electronic duo Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour) provide a soundtrack for the projection. Most of the Vivid festival program is free, including a light walk that connects five zones of events around the city. A music program will include more than 100 live performances, with free shows at Tumbalong Park each night of the festival. The NSW government has also extended Sunday trading hours until midnight for many venues in and around the city centre. More than 2.5 million people attended the 2024 festival, generating more than $180 million for the state's economy. Kiss of Light runs each night of Vivid Sydney from 6pm Friday until June 14. Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578 The Sydney Opera House sails are being illuminated with an animated tribute to the life and work of Australian artist David McDiarmid, as part of the annual Vivid festival. The seven-minute animation titled Kiss of Light marks 30 years since McDiarmid's death from AIDS-related illnesses in 1995. Through his lurid combination of camp and punk, the artist and queer activist helped pioneer a distinctly Sydney queer aesthetic. McDiarmid's designs became influential during the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, when he made posters promoting safe sex and events such as Mardi Gras. The animation by creative technologists VANDAL highlights his most well-known works, such as the Rainbow Aphorisms series, as well as his Bedsheet Paintings and Disco Kwilts. Friend and co-curator of Kiss of Light, Dr Sally Gray said she had long hoped the artist's work would be shown prominently in Sydney. "David often expressed a hope that his work would speak to future generations," she said. "Kiss of Light ensures that his work and his political vision of joy, hope and human dignity for all is shared with millions." The electronic duo Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour) provide a soundtrack for the projection. Most of the Vivid festival program is free, including a light walk that connects five zones of events around the city. A music program will include more than 100 live performances, with free shows at Tumbalong Park each night of the festival. The NSW government has also extended Sunday trading hours until midnight for many venues in and around the city centre. More than 2.5 million people attended the 2024 festival, generating more than $180 million for the state's economy. Kiss of Light runs each night of Vivid Sydney from 6pm Friday until June 14. Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Lighting up: Vivid pays tribute to radical queer artist
The Sydney Opera House sails are being illuminated with an animated tribute to the life and work of Australian artist David McDiarmid, as part of the annual Vivid festival. The seven-minute animation titled Kiss of Light marks 30 years since McDiarmid's death from AIDS-related illnesses in 1995. Through his lurid combination of camp and punk, the artist and queer activist helped pioneer a distinctly Sydney queer aesthetic. McDiarmid's designs became influential during the AIDS epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s, when he made posters promoting safe sex and events such as Mardi Gras. The animation by creative technologists VANDAL highlights his most well-known works, such as the Rainbow Aphorisms series, as well as his Bedsheet Paintings and Disco Kwilts. Friend and co-curator of Kiss of Light, Dr Sally Gray said she had long hoped the artist's work would be shown prominently in Sydney. "David often expressed a hope that his work would speak to future generations," she said. "Kiss of Light ensures that his work and his political vision of joy, hope and human dignity for all is shared with millions." The electronic duo Stereogamous (Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour) provide a soundtrack for the projection. Most of the Vivid festival program is free, including a light walk that connects five zones of events around the city. A music program will include more than 100 live performances, with free shows at Tumbalong Park each night of the festival. The NSW government has also extended Sunday trading hours until midnight for many venues in and around the city centre. More than 2.5 million people attended the 2024 festival, generating more than $180 million for the state's economy. Kiss of Light runs each night of Vivid Sydney from 6pm Friday until June 14. Lifeline 13 11 14 Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
