Vivid Sydney has announced its 2021 program with over 200 events announced to take place when the festival begins on August 6.
After falling victim to COVID in 2020, Vivid is ready to take over Sydney City again, with names such as British personality and advocate Jameela Jamil, celebrated rapper Sampa the Great and comedian Magda Szubanski just a few of those on the bill.
One of the light display’s to get excited about is the sails of the Opera House being lit up by the art of eight Indigenous female artists from the Pilbara. Another predicted highlight is Ephemeral at Cockle Bay, which will feature more than 200 illuminated spheres that will be ‘transforming Darling Harbour into a giant bubble bath’.
In total the festival will feature works from 129 light artists from 19 different countries, with a particular focus on celebrating the culture of Indigenous Australians. This is joined by more than 50 live music shows and 67 Vivid Ideas events.
“Vivid Sydney is all about pushing boundaries and transporting festival-goers to a playground of the unexpected. This year’s program delivers fresh and engaging content, bringing feelings of joy, wonder, discovery, hope and excitement to all who absorb it,” said Festival Director Gill Minervini.
“This year the program reveals an incredibly rich and diverse line-up across our ever evolving cultural landscape including Australia’s rich Aboriginal heritage, Sydney’s vibrant LGBTQI+ culture, and the incredibly group of strong, empowered women who continue to ensure Vivid Sydney remains relevant globally.”
Our picks
Music and parties
- King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard hold a five night residency at Carriageworks from August 22 to 26.
- An evening with Angie McMahon, the Melbourne singer-songwriter delivered a special solo piano performance in the Opera House on August 22.
- Two of Australia’s premier electronic musicians, Golden Features and Hermitude perform at the Opera House on August 13 and 14.
- Heaps Gay: Kween’s Ball, famous for its extravagant queer parties, Heaps Gay hosts a huge party at Luna Park on August 7.
- The Oxford Art Factory 14th Birthday, on August 27 the party will rage on till four in the morning as The Oxford Art Factory celebrates its birthday
Light
- Helen Eager’s ‘New York Sunday’ will transform the Museum of Contemporary Art into kaleidoscopes of colour in a Vivid must see.
- A series of artist’s have created ‘Vorax’, which will light up Customs House with ‘a seamlessly looping 3D animated epic tale of the quest for all-consuming power.’
- Brad Robinsons ‘Point of View’ will feature a series of dynamic projects projected onto a sandstone wall in the rocks.
- Chris Daniel and Renzo B. Larriviere have created ‘Patterns in Nature’, which is a series of installations at First Fleet Park and promises to be a highlight of the festival.
Ideas
- The Ideas and Innovators Transforming the World event features a series of Sydney entrepreneurs sharing how their creativity and technological innovation can solve the world’s biggest environmental, social and economic challenges. This event is happening on August 19 at The One Centre.
- Under the Sea, for a fun and family friendly event, you can spend a day learning about various creative works, research and experiments that explore everything to do with the sea, this is on at the Maritime Museum on August 14.
- Briggs x Nat’s What I reckon, Indigenous Australian rapper Briggs discusses the role of music in mental health and shaping identity with youtube chef star Nat’s What I Reckon going back and forth with him at Sydney Town Hall on August 22.
