From Neolithic cave paintings that seem to move in the flicker of firelight, to the dramatic chiaroscuros of Caravaggio and James Turrell’s use of light not as a tool but as a medium, artists have long been fascinated by the creative possibilities and properties of light.
Today, festivals focused on light – highlighting it, one might say – are common drawcards around Australia and the world. From Parrtjima – A Festival in Light and Vivid Sydney to Lyon’s Fête des Lumières and Light Up Macao, such events remain popular drawcards with locals and visitors alike – but how does one curate a meaningful artistic experience when working in such a format, as opposed to a shallow event that looks great on Instagram, but underwhelms in real life?
