Lightscape | Brisbane Festival & Sony Music Entertainment
All images: Markus Ravik
Walking towards the gates of the Botanical Gardens at night, the neon light Lightscape beams from within creating an exciting transformation of our beautiful gardens into a mysterious and inviting after dark playground.
This walkabout multi-faceted installation series joins together international, local and First Nations collaborators. This is an epic collaboration and a must-see experience for everyone. Expect a mix of popular songs, soundscapes, curated spaces, differing uses of lights and projections within the 1.8km trail. Featured artists this year are Paul Bong (Shields and Swords), Mandy Lights (Winter Cathedral), TILT (Peonies), Tony Simpson - Culture Creative (Roots, Boardwalk and Palm Trees Ray Show). Luke Peacock - Culture Creative (Electric Forest) and both Tony and Luke together for Light Lines forming a collab with paBOOM for Fire Garden, Squidsoup (Submergence), Lightworks (Meadow of Light), ArtAV (Trapezoid) and Michelle Yeatman (Salt Water Pots).
All images: Markus Ravik
The attention to the curatorial vision was excellent along with the workmanship of each piece. Swords and Shields set the scene with a corridor of handmade shields painted in ochre belied by neon swords above which felt like an initiation and an acknowledgement to country: to walk gently and connect with the different family groups which is spoken about within the background audio.
Some other pieces went deeper into the sonic space such as Trapezoid with beats and trills triggering light displays across the would-be monkey bars. Boardwalk was filled with strings and quiet contemplation, Meadow of Lights took me on an imaginary journey to Avatar’s Pandora wishing I was 7 foot tall and the Salt Water Pots paid homage to salt and sea. I loved Electric Fields so much, it was wild and I loved the lights running up the palms weaving through the smaller paths snaking through to the next exhibit. It was eerie like a clip from Bjerk’s movie Fungi.
More upbeat pieces brought the party vibe as well like Peonies featuring Mylie Cyrus’ disco hit ‘Flowers’e and Palm Tree Ray Show, which included lasers and smoke and pulsating lights. This was quite spectacular, and it would be such a great backdrop for aerials or a circus troupe or even a Batman movie. Even with these upbeat pieces, the curation of sound meant that no installation dominated another.
As far as audience participation went, I loved seeing kids interacting with little possums who no doubt weren’t as happy, and even the conversations with a circle of mums and their little ones on the best way to roast a marshmallow around a brazier was enthralling and super cute – Make sure you stop for one! I randomly spoke to numerous people who were as awe struck as I was, even volunteers telling me about their favourite pieces. I loved seeing their faces lighting up as their shared their witty comments and insights.
All images: Markus Ravik
What I love about this, is that Lightscape gets people into nature, it encourages sustainability and connects us with each other. It can be taken as an introspective walk with a lover, or family night out on the weekend with kids, or a fun get together with friends having drinks at the bar (Go say hello to the Mojo owner!). There’s many food trucks to have a meal at the start or end of your experience! Lightscape promotes health and well-being, while showing us we can adventure safety out at night - particularly for those who steer clear of walking in parks after sunset.
Lightscape changes the paradigm repurposing and reimagining public space surrounding who is it for and why, are themes that are not so obviously exposed but are present nonetheless. It is a place for artists to come together and use light and sound as a canvas. How can anyone not love this? Everyone I spoke to had the best time. There are so many moments to get lost in the dreamtime, the flickering flames and the soft faces melting into them, the chorus of voices through illuminated tunnels and in unexpected places, the light and dark shadows on ruffled and rugged surfaces, the psychedelic multicolour projections and the most mystical tree in the meadow of flowers. Take a camera or just immerse yourself. It’s a place to absorb, feel and experience.
Accessibility tips: Bring a torch, wear comfortable shoes because some of the walkways are not lit, not all the QR codes that are scannable are lit and some signs for each upcoming installation are hard to find. The pathway ropes to guide you through are sometimes hard to spot for those with low vision or nighttime blindness. There are some volunteers at key junctions that are quite dark is helpful. It’s worth scanning the QR codes and reading the stories if you would like to learn more about the artist, their practice and each installation which aren’t displayed on the Brisbane Festival website. The exhibit does contain flashing and triggered lights in some installations and some smoke too.
‘Lightscape’ takes over the Brisbane Botanic Gardens from 29 August to 12 October as a part of the 2024 Brisbane Festival.
All images: Markus Ravik
