Sydney Opera House to be lit up with Aboriginal art each sunset
THROUGHOUT SYDNEY’S Vivid festival, the Sydney Opera House was lit up with swashes of Aboriginal art.
Now, Opera House officials have decided to continue the seven minute show beyond the festival, each sunset on the eastern sails of the landmark from tonight onward.
This new tradition comes in the wake of NAIDOC celebrations and follows on from the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum.
The art that will be featured is known as ‘Badu Gili’, which is the traditional translation of water light in the language of the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians of Bennelong Point.
The 7-minute animated show is inspired by Indigenous artists including Alick Tipoti, Frances Belle Parker, Jenuarrie and the some older favourites such as the late Lin Onis who passed away in 1996 and Minnie Pwerle, who died in 2006.
During the Vivid Festival, art by the First Nations people has remained a popular fixture.
Back in 2016, six Indigenous artists were chosen at the beginning of the year to feature their art, which would be a project collectively known as ‘Songlines’, headed by The Opera House’s head of First Nations programming, Rhoda Roberts.
Rhonda told Fairfax media that she’s hoping the regular light show will “create a gateway to Australia’s First Nations history and culture for the 8.2 million people who visit the Opera House each year.”
If you’re unable to see the lights in person, the Sydney Opera House will be streaming the show live on their face page HERE.
READ MORE:
