A spectacular light art installation inspired by the wondrous colours and patterns of Australia’s national gemstone, the beautiful and mysterious opal, will feature in this year’s Vivid Sydney.
Vivid Sydney is the southern hemisphere’s biggest annual festival of lights, music and ideas taking place over 18 nights from 22 May to 8 June 2015.
Supported by online opal gemstone and jewellery store Black Star Opal, OPALessence (play.with.colour) showcases opal’s most celebrated property – its play of colour – in vivid, iridescent patterns.
This dynamic light sequence will illuminate a historic sandstone building located at the corner of 47 George St and Atherden St in Sydney’s popular Rocks precinct, a key location along the Vivid Sydney Light Walk.
Three of Australia’s leading opal photographers contributed images for OPALessence (play.with.colour) – macrophotography specialist Robert A. Smith; globally renowned opal expert and author Len Cram; and palaeontologist and manager of the Australian Opal Centre Jenni Brammall – all based in Lightning Ridge, NSW, home of Australia’s black opal. OPALessence (play.with.colour) is the creative concept of Olivia Deskoski, whose family has been involved in the Australian opal industry for more than 45 years, and Amara Clarke, an award-winning Sydney-based lighting designer.
“Vivid Sydney is a hugely popular global event that offers an exciting and unique opportunity to promote opal, one of our most beautiful and precious natural assets, to 1.5 million festivalgoers including overseas visitors from key international opal markets like China, Europe and the United States,” Ms Deskoski said.
“This is in addition to the 1.2 billion people in more than 190 countries and territories around the world who will experience Vivid Sydney through robust media coverage in the lead up to and during the event.
“2015 is the International Year of Light, so the spotlight will shine even brighter on Vivid Sydney’s world famous light art installations this year, including OPALessence (play.with.colour), which will bring opal’s brilliant colour palette to life on a scale never before seen.
“We’re thrilled to be part of Vivid Sydney 2015 and would like to thank the Australian Opal Centre for their great support – a clear demonstration of their commitment to the Australian opal industry and creative innovation.”
OPALessence (play.with.colour is supported by Black Star Opal, the Australian Opal Centre, the Jewellers Association of Australia, Lots of Watts Australia, Opal Cove Resort and Diamonds By Design.
Image: Robert A. Smith
