Office Building by day, artwork by night
Melbourne’s streets and public spaces will become the canvas and light the ‘paint’ in a series of magical glowing ‘light-scapes’ that will appear at Docklands, Federation Square and the CBD over winter.
The most eye-catching is likely to be Maxims of Behaviour, a kinetic light work by Alexander Knox that takes a 1960s-era office building on the corner of Swanston and Bourke Street (Royal Mail House) and transforms it nightly into a dazzling, ever-changing feast of colour, light and movement. With a lifespan of five years – it will be visible every night from dusk till late, during winter every year until 2012. Maxims of Behaviour is one of the most ambitious public art projects ever commissioned by the City of Melbourne. The work's 88 multi-coloured LED lights run on green power.
The Light in Winter at Federation Square (4 June – 5 July) is an annual month-long winter festival at Federation Square and celebration of Melbourne centred around light. Curated by Robyn Archer (former director the Melbourne International Arts Festival), The Light in Winter draws together different traditions, rituals and ceremonies from Melbourne’s diverse cultural communities, who have worked with artists to create a series of illuminated objects and events. One of the highlights will be a Volume, a major installation from the UK’s United Visual Artists, featuring music created by 3D from Massive Attack. Considered the ‘rockstars’ of the lighting design world, United Visual Artists have designed the lighting shows for tours by U2, Massive Attack and Kylie Minogue.
Melbourne’s scenic waterfront will glow with a range of illumination-based events, activities and art installations this winter. The spectacular opening night of Ignite at Docklands will officially launch the City of Melbourne's winter program on Saturday 30 May. Opening night will see Waterfront City Piazza transformed into a radiant hub of activity, with a spectacular line-up of light, fire artistry and music, while the Docklands harbour will sparkle as an illuminated boat procession makes its bright passage along the waterfront. Ignite at Docklands runs for three weekends in June, with nightly performances from Thursdays to Sundays.
Click here to see more information on Maxims of Behaviour including moving image footage
For further information visit: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au
Media contact: Karl Hale, City of Melbourne, Ph: (03) 9658 9115 or email: karl.hale@melbourne.vic.gov.au