Australia’s new major event, ILLUMINATE ADELAIDE — a celebration of innovation, music, art and light — today unveiled highlights of its curated program including The Avalanches as the inaugural Luminary Artists in Residence.
The event will bring winter to life from 16 July 2021 for 17 days, taking over city streets, laneways and buildings with local and international collaborations, and immersive experiences exploring the union of future technologies and the creative industries.
As Artists in Residence, The Avalanches come to Illuminate with five exciting events, including a world premiere live performance of their classic debut album Since I Left You with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday 30 July. Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi can be heard in conversation with Double J’s Zan Rowe and collaborator Jonathan Zawada, unpacking the bands past, present and future to kick off MAAD (Music & Art After Dark), Illuminate’s massive closing weekend block party in the West End.
The duo will work with Sydney-based artists Michaela Gleave and Fausto Brusamolino on Messages of Hope and Messages of Love, beaming Morse code messages of hope, solidarity and love to the sky, and curate an exhibition, Ghost Stories, showcasing the works that influenced the pair’s most recent Australian Music Prize-Winning album We Will Always Love You, featuring works by Jonathan Zawada and The Experience Machine (T.E.M).
The Avalanches will then close Illuminate with an electrifying DJ set on the Outdoor Music Stage as part of the MAAD West End block party on Saturday 31 July.
Other highlights of Illuminate include:
— The world premiere of LIGHT CYCLES from Canada’s world-leading multimedia studio, Moment Factory, spanning nearly two kilometres of the Adelaide Botanic Garden with a series of installations that use lights, sound, video and special effects to amplify the voice of the natural world. Moment Factory has crafted a global reputation for blending light, technology and emotions to reinvent iconic locations and unshackle imaginations. Their installations and experiences have enchanted audiences from New York to Tokyo, and they’ve created mesmerising stage shows for artists like Madonna, Jay-Z, Muse, Ed Sheeran and Billie Eilish.
— CITY LIGHTS; over 40 large scale installations, brilliant projections, and immersive works will transform three separate precincts across Adelaide’s CBD – East, West and North – into nocturnal playgrounds.
The West takes on a whole new meaning as street artist Vans The Omega and an international all-star team of artists reimagine the city’s architecture and atmosphere. From Hindley Street to Light Square, Big Picture Series blends street art, augmented reality and projections to create interactive and innovative experiences on a bold new scale. Russian art collective Tundra make their Australian debut with Row, a perception-shifting multimedia experience at the Queens Theatre. International stars will be part of the Big Picture Series including Filip Roca and Askew One.
The East zone invites us to look up to the heavens and back to the past in one of the city’s most-loved and well-travelled strips. East End Echoes is an eye-catching audio-visual series presenting the histories and characters of the city, created by illuminart along with various artists. Sky Castle by ENESS is an
The North brings iconic heritage buildings and hidden laneways to life with fireflies, lasers, desert pop art and stunning projections. With the gentle giants of Airship Orchestra by ENESS, visitors will be transfixed by the shimmering lights of Studio Toer’s Firefly Field, take in Kaylene Whiskey’s playful and thought-provoking journey into culture, identity and Country in Kaylene TV, and be engrossed by a brand-new commission by the ground-breaking Atong Atem. Pixel Ninjasare not to be missed, in association with Rising Sun Pictures, as they bring their homegrown Hollywood magic to Lot Fourteen.
— LIGHT CREATURES, an enchanting twist on the animal kingdom at Adelaide Zoo.
— The world premiere of VR works THIN ICE (recreating Shackleton’s epic Antarctic trip while highlighting the effects of climate change) and SQUARE CIRCLES (drawing upon William Barton’s country, culture and dreaming). Situated in a specially designed dome inside Queen’s Theatre, both works will run consecutively using different modes of immersive virtual reality, inviting patrons to experience VR at its most innovative and thrilling.
— KINARA, a specially curated event of music, culture, Kin and Country led by a line-up of ground-breaking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, co-presented by TANDANYA and Music SA.
— CLUB SATELITTES – a late night journey into new and exhilarating sonic landscapes curated with some of Adelaide’s best nightclubs – Ancient World, Mary’s Poppin and Sugar.
— A reimagined ADELAIDE FESTIVAL OF IDEAS in partnership with the University of Adelaide, to illuminate the challenges and opportunities of our time;
— A one night only block party celebrating the final weekend, MAAD will take over the West End with a program of experimental electronic music by local and international talent will be featured alongside an exciting roster of emerging local musicians and legends revered by a generation of beatmakers. Running concurrently with these live performances, a broader cultural program will take over galleries, museums, cultural centres and live music venues.
Co-founders and creative directors, Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge said: “Illuminate Adelaide strives to bring together leading artists and innovators from around the globe to collaborate with technical teams and cultural partners in our city in delivering exceptional experiences and performances in the public realm and iconic venues.
“We’ve sought opportunities to embrace ambitious ideas and emerging technology, to explore new and diverse voices, and to celebrate spectacular Australian and international works. We are also commissioning major South Australian projects, demonstrating the incredible work being created in the state.
“With over 150 installations, performances and events, including 41 world premieres, audiences are invited to explore this wonderful city’s architecture, streets, laneways, gardens and zoo, as we transform them all with new immersive stories, adventures and experiences.”
Wander through a field of fireflies, step inside a rainbow or get lost in shimmering fantasies as Adelaide’s laneways, grand public spaces and buildings are transformed into portals leading to new and imagined worlds.
Acclaimed artists and studios from around the world will create site-specific works including kaleidoscopic projections, immersive inflatable installations, augmented reality and interactive exhibits at the intersection of fine art and cutting-edge technology.
About Illuminate Adelaide
A new major annual winter event taking over Adelaide’s city streets, laneways and buildings and celebrating innovation, music, art, technology and light.
16 July – 1 August 2021
