17 May, 2023

World first lighting experience to be displayed at Vivid 2023

Edited by Travel Weekly

As testing begins for Vivid 2023, the Dark Spectrum immersive journey of light and sound commences its performance to unravel the spectrum of human experience.

During the six-week long display using light, music, laser, robotics and other state of the art technologies, visitors are invited to step inside each artwork in this world-first as part of Vivid Sydney.

As the lights and music erupt in each space, visitors enjoy an hour-long experience in the tunnels under Wynyard train station. A five-minute-long soundtrack will feature in each space, the atmosphere evolving and changing which sets off a new emotion as visitors’ senses overload with light and sound. Once the five minutes is up, visitors move from one tunnel to the next, where they’ll enter a completely new colour of the spectrum, energy, music, and visual effect, and evoke new emotions.

Space 1,“Separation”. Pools of intense light morph and contort overhead as the music transforms the space from industrial tunnel to a borderless room of laser. In a flash, white light is split into every colour of the spectrum in a spectacular fashion, as the journey to delve deep into the Dark Spectrum begins…
Space 2, themed “Constriction” the red hue maze permeates the feeling of the walls closing in. The maze of red neon and tangled illuminated cabling sees hundreds of hanging pillars pulse and animate; creating illusions of the space expanding and contracting around as visitors can weave and wonder amongst the 150 LED tubes to explore every corner of this vast underground labyrinth.

Space 2, Construction. (Supplied)

Space 3, “Pressure” the amber fused tunnel explores the pressure we all feel as part of modern life and the relentless driving beat of society that pushes us all along. Inside the expansive, seemingly endless tunnel of light that extends for nearly one hundred metres, visualisations of this driving beat pulse as the music envelops you.
Space 4, “Unseen”, At first glance, this space is adorned with jumping castle-esque inflatables that glow in warm yellows; it’s a fun and literally bubbly space just begging to be explored. As the music builds you might just discover what lies unseen as the entire room takes on a completely different form…

Space 4, Unseen. (Supplied)

Space 5, “Reflection” Thousands of green laser beams emanate from every crack and crevice in the underground warren. Monolithic mirrors rotate slowly, reflecting and refracting beams off into space in every direction. Visitors are encouraged to pause and reflect – literally – as the giant mirrors pass them by. Stare closely into your reflection for long enough and you’re likely to see something new.
Space 6, “Unfamiliar” the blue shade is enveloped by five 2 Tonne, 6-metre-high robots which are encouraged to set off unsettling feelings of the unfamiliar. When human-like robots come alive, the tunnel is disturbed, and visitors are encouraged to discover the series of uncannily familiar expressions and movement that spring to life in the stunningly choreographed display which will leave them mesmerised.
Space 7, “Interaction” thousands of magenta hanging vines adorn the ceilings and hang to the floor, where visitors are encouraged to interact with the artwork and others as the series of alien-like illuminated hanging plants respond to interaction and human touch – as you get closer to them, you’ll trigger brief interactions of brilliant colour.
Space 8, “Revelation” comes alive in a full spectrum of colour. Every colour of the spectrum combines, producing wave-after wave of rainbows that fill the air around you in the form of hundreds of bright beams of moving light. Having journeyed across the Dark Spectrum, you’re invited to walk (literally) towards the light as you approach the exit of the tunnels, hopefully uplifted by all of your experiences and reminded that we all must experience darkness to appreciate the light.

Presented in partnership with Vivid Sydney, Sony Music, Mandylights and Culture Creative, Dark Spectrum will premiere at Vivid Sydney on 26 May, running until 16 July before touring the world.

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