Check Out These 5 Vivid 2023 Wonders

Vivid Sydney is a celebration of lights, ideas, music, and food. For more than a decade now, Vivid Sydney has been transforming the stunning city of Sydney into a playground of creativity, attracting art enthusiasts and festival lovers from all over the world. It is safe to say that the mesmerising light installations are the backbone of the event. We have curated a list of five unique light installations that we think you should not miss at any cost at Vivid Sydney 2023.

It isn’t a secret that the best spot to experience Vivid Lights is from a Vivid Sydney cruise. The panoramic view of lights reflected on the tranquil waters is a sight to cherish forever. Be ready to be dazzled by a lot of light, creativity and festival spirits!

Lighting of the Sails: Life Enlivened

Sydney Opera house is renowned for its unparalleled design and truly special architecture. With its sails lit, this iconic attraction is really a vision to behold. Best viewed from aboard a Vivid dinner cruise, soak in the illuminated beauty of the Sydney Opera House.

In 2023, the walls of the Sydney Opera house will be illuminated with the incredible paintings of the late Australian artist John Olsen, handpicked by curator Dr. Deborah Hart and animated by creative technologists, Curiious.

Life enlivened highlights the love that John Olsen held for the beautiful nature and landscapes that are indigenous to Australia. It is also a tribute to the legendary artist’s 60 year long career. Do keep your eyes open for the Sydney Opera house and watch John Olsen’s imagination come to life.

The Last Ocean

Jen Lewin’s ‘The Last Ocean’ is an attempt to mimic Antarctica’s Ross sea. The spread of ice sheets are seen to be blue and white during the day but at night the ice’s colours and shapes change under your feet. The fact that the installation is made out of reclaimed ocean plastic is another reason why you should check it out. It is truly an experience you should not miss as it gives us a glimpse of the beauty of nature that is at risk if we are not careful.

Elemental

The four elements of life- fire, water, air, and earth- are brought together to celebrate their contrasting, raw power. This stunning show comprises 80 metre water shooters, flames, pyrotechnics, and projections, making ‘Elemental’ an essential stop at the festival.

The idea of Elemental is to showcase how contrasting, revolting energies can co-exist in perfect harmonium if balanced. The breath-taking effects and original sound tracks will make this an experience to look out for.

Light Forest

Imagine that you are in the rainforests of Tazmania and watch the sunlight peeking through every gap of the forest canopy. Artist Duncan Meerding has tried to visualise that light reflecting from within tree trunks, making a light forest.

The installation is a series of illuminated tree trunks standing tall in an area of clearing. By using reclaimed wood to create this artwork, the artist has tried to emphasise on the life left in them. As Duncan Meerding is also a visually challenged person, this installation is also an attempt to showcase his sensory world.

Lightscape

Lightscape is happening at the Royal Botanical Garden and what awaits you behind the garden gates is nothing short of magic. This installation is a multi-sensory culmination of visuals, sounds, and senses.

Be ready to be fascinated by huge flowers, glowing canopies, and neon roots. The Lightscape is a dedication to the Botanical gardens and the vast horticultural collection they possess. Immerse yourself in a magical world of lights, colours, and sounds and appreciate the wonder that is nature.

We hope these special illustrations would not only be a fun experience but also an educational journey. Keep your eyes open for many other such cool light illustrations at the Vivid Sydney this year.

Witness the Vivid Lights! Top Locations!

The capital of New South Wales (NSW) is one of the most gorgeous cities in the world and it even shines brighter during the annual Vivid Sydney festival. Vivid Sydney 2022 is arguably the most anticipated festival in Sydney’s calendar and you can enjoy it with your family, friends or even your partner. Your socials will be bursting with bright colours as this year the festival unearths the very soul of the city through creative and contemporary light installations in surprising spaces! Venture through the city at night, discover delicious food around every corner, hop on a Vivid Cruise in Sydney Harbour and snap stunning snaps for your socal feed!

Opera House

Easily one of Sydney’s most photographed buildings and during Vivid, this iconic landmark gets a creative makeover every year! The Lighting of the Sails has been the star-attraction of the festival for years in the making and for 2022, Curiious Studio will look forward to keeping that title intact. The mesmerising sails of the Opera House will come to life with an Aboriginal-themed painting Yarrkalpa, a rainbow of dot paintings that shows off the natives’ connection to the land. This iconic spectacle is best seen onboard the Vivid Dinner Cruise, which offers unrivalled views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and much more along with a sumptuous menu! Choose a unique paddlewheeler as your vessel and further enhance your experience with a live cabaret show! You can even purchase your favourite drinks from the onboard bar as you enjoy the views, food and the show! Sounds like a plan right? Get your seats now!

The Rocks

Like a moth to flame, tens of thousands of people can be seen near this unique installation in First Fleet Park. This superscale artwork looks like a giant bulb and will be filled with sparkling moths– inspired from Australia’s Bogong Moth– which will cast shadows in unpredictable patterns, offering awesome photo ops for you to get creative with your camera! This is also a perfect backdrop for you and your selfies and the overlooking Opera House and the harbour will only add more to it! You can get numerous shots of this large installation– see it up close or get a good shot from above on the Cahill Expressway pedestrian path.

Tumbalong Park

Vivid Sydney 2022 may actually just set the bar higher than ever with numerous festival firsts including the longest Light Walk in history. Tumbalong Park plays host to a wide range of activities for 23 days and this includes the Vivid House, a new addition to the Light Walk. This immersive experience of psychedelic light and music artworks will take shape across 360 degree LED walls and will surely leave you spellbound. The creators have designed a tribute to the city;s dancefloor through a series of visual extravaganza where you can’t help but put on your dancing shoes. This is the best place to have a dance off with your friends or family and with ever changing wall patterns and colours, there’s no better time to catch a perfect shot for your next Instagram story.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

The MCA is known for its exceptional facade and during Vivid Sydney, this monumental piece gets transformed into a blissful geometric animation! Right in the heart of Circular Quay, this centrepiece of the festival’s Light Walk gets choreographed into a fun electro-pop soundtrack and a blast of multi-colour projection that is sure to blow you away. You can easily grab a seat in the outdoor setting of the gallery to catch the show in its entirety or even get a perfect shot right in front of the building.

Best Things to Do in the Land Down Under (Winter Season)

Sydney, the most luxurious of all the cities in the Southern Hemisphere, is an ideal city to visit for a getaway, especially in the winter when a whole new side of the city turns up! This off-peak season is full of clear days and splendid skies and it never really gets cold enough that you wouldn’t want to step outside. Here are a few things worth noting for if you’re ever planning to visit this harbour city during the winter months!

Vivid Sydney

The biggest festival of lights, music and ideas is finally back after two years and is promising to be one of the most captivating events in Sydney’s calendar. Setting the city on fire for 23 days from the end of May until mid June, this live outdoor exhibition of light installations and music concerts has grown to be one of the world’s most creative forums. To best enjoy this multi-award winning festival you can hop on the popular Vivid Harbour Cruise which lets you enjoy views of the top harbour spectacles including the Lighting of the sails of the Opera House and the illumination of the Harbour Bridge. You get to indulge in a delicious array of dishes as you witness the dazzling light sculptures and other exhibits bringing life to the surrounding precincts of the harbour! A truly breathtaking experience! This Vivid Dinner Cruise also houses a fully licensed bar so you can enjoy the harbour extravaganza with your favourite drink in your hand! So don’t even think more! Book your seats now!

Bondi Icebergs

Being the iconic city that it is, Sydney has few top things you can enjoy at any time of the year. One such activity is taking in the views of Bondi Beach or indulging in the Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk. But an attraction that is sure to take your breath away is the Bondi Icebergs Club, housing one of the most photographed rock pools in the world. Located on the southern end of the beach, this pool is regarded as an international landmark not only because of its location by the ocean but also due to traditional winter swimming which dates way back to 1929. Brave the cold and take a dip in the icy water and enjoy unparalleled views of the vast ocean as the tides bounce off the rocks! If you are nti daring enough you can always enjoy other perks of the club like enjoying views of the beach and pool as you drink or dine on the balconies!

Beyond Sydney

Sure, staying within the borders of the harbour city would take your time off easily but if you have the time to venture out of the city and explore the rest of the precincts during its coldest season, make sure you don’t miss it. Most visitors are unaware of the fact that it actually snows in Australia and while it may not be as heavy as in Japan or North America, you can still make the most of it! Few hours south of the harbour city you can enjoy the nation’s only true alpine wonderland during the winter– Snowy Mountains– a must-do for all types of travellers. Skiers across the nation flock here to make use of the conditions! Do not worry, even if you’re not into skiing or snowboarding there are a lot of other winter activities you can enjoy! Byron Bay, Australia’s popular hippy beachside town, is another destination you wouldn’t want to miss. It’s located on the most eastern point of the mainland housing some of the most phenomenal beaches you could ever find!