One of the last remnants of this year’s Brisbane Festival will fade to black this weekend as Lightscape closes.
The multisensory experience of light, colour and sound set up in Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens ends on Saturday (October 12).
The installations features international artists and showcases local stories with cultural significance across its 14 exhibits, all but one of which have never been seen before.
For those yet to experience the spectacle, here’s the rundown on a few of the features:
Shields and Swords:
Paul Bong, a Yidinji artist, presents traditional shields and swords made from the buttress roots of fig trees, painted with natural ochres. The designs represent the clans of Gimuy and are linked to male initiation ceremonies, where young warriors were given these symbolic items. Each shield is adorned with totemic symbols, such as the scorpion, representing courage, strength, and independence.
Fire Garden:
Culture Creative collaborates with paBOOM to create a Fire Garden featuring two three-metre tall orbs — each hung with sixty candles. More flame-topped stakes are dotted around the orbs to further fill the lawn with warm, flickering light. The installation invites contemplation, offering a serene, meditative experience.
Submergence:
Squidsoup, an international collective of artists and technologists, create an immersive walkthrough experience using thousands of suspended points of light. The installation blends the physical and virtual worlds, allowing visitors to interact with both as they move through the space. The piece evolves through several movements, building an abstract narrative that culminates in a powerful climax.
Winter Cathedral:
Last year’s favourite exhibit returns. Suitable for all ages, this iconic installation invites explorers to stop for a moment, or a picture, and glide through this all-encompassing exhibit in awe.
