CD was given a sneak peek of whatโs to come for the Enlighten Festival at the media preview last night, and some of the works are quite impressive.
We also got to hear the artists talk about their works.
The festival runs across Canberra from 28 February to 10 March.
My favourite of the night was Marri Ngarr artist Ryan Presleyโs Inferno, which takes place along a wall at the National Portrait Gallery. Also part of the work are retro arcade game consoles you can play on.
The scenes in Inferno are based on the lived experiences of the artistโs friends and family who become heroic figures that evoke the portrayals of the saints and archangels in Christian iconography.
All I will reveal about this one is it involves a dragon, a shark and a pretty snazzy car!
It was also the first time Presley saw his work up on the wall!
I also really liked Lindy Leeโs 100 Flowers Falling, which brings to life an ancient Zen story about embracing our own humanity in all its complexity.
It was so lovely watching her watch her artwork bring the art institution to life.
Leeโs feature is perfectly placed on the wall of the National Gallery of Australia where Leeโs Ouroboros is also in view.
At Questacon, LEGO was the star of the show โ and this work is also interactive!
It is a large-scale digital mosaic that appears on the Questacon building, one LEGO brick at a time, where you can add to the process via outdoor iPad stations.
There will also be a handful of activities, including a pop-up shop selling glow items, as well as some sweet treats. On 8 March, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute will demonstrate the chemistry of fluorescence. And on 1 March, judge of LEGO Masters Australia Ryan โBrickmanโ McNaught will host a night at the science museum. We also got to eat some adorable cupcakes there that had a little coloured chocolate LEGO men and bricks on top โ and cups with the LEGO brick print with a very yummy flavoured soda inside.
At the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD), love was in the air, where visitors are encouraged to โswipe right and fall in love with democracyโ with a Date with Democracy.
The stairs into the building were lit up, you could walk through a tunnel of love, there were dancers all dressed up in pink, love ballads were blasting, and more. The faรงade was turned into something very love-ly. You can also make your own friendship bracelet.
Women were championed in Alison Alderโs work at the current Parliament House โ where we were treated to drinks and nibbles at the Queenโs Terrace, which was the perfect place to begin the night as we waited for the sun to set. It was also my first visit to Parliament House.
At the National Library of Australia, there were two parts โ illuminations onto the faรงade of the building, as well as domes with different prints.
I canโt wait to see Canberra come to life with the lights and sounds of this wonderful annual festival showcasing Canberraโs most iconic arts institutions.
For more information on whatโs to come as part of the festival visit enlightencanberra.com.
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