Creators, curators, and producers of iconic events, such as the world's largest light festival Vivid Light Sydney, AGB Events recently completed their fourth Parrtjima, the only First Nations light festival of its kind and the fastest growing event in Australia. Held April 5-14 on Arrente lands in Central Australia near the town of Alice Springs, Parrtjima showcases the oldest continuous cultures on earth through the newest technology.
Initially asked by the Northern Territory Major Events Corporation to develop an event concept to light up a section of the MacDonnell Ranges, AGB Events took the brief further, expanding the mission to include multiple light installations based upon artworks from the local indigenous community. Anthony Bastic, CEO and creative director of AGB Events, discusses the design of the 2019 edition of the world’s first Indigenous light festival.
1. What were this year’s highlights? Were there any world-firsts?
This year we designed a theatrical lighting treatment and applied it to 2 km of the MacDonnell Ranges, which was illuminated with stunning lighting effects celebrating the beauty, uniqueness, and survival of this ancient landscape. Crowds were mesmerised by the local stories played out on the 300-million-year-old natural canvas and the voice of the land speaking through an image of a face appearing in a desert gum tree.
2. Can you tell us a bit more about the International Year of Indigenous Languages and how did that fit into this year’s brief?
The United Nations declared 2019 the Year of Indigenous Languages, and we applied this theme to each of our installations. Indigenous Languages are important for ancient story and culture to continue.
Our light installations included: The language of kin which honoured the local Arrente people by celebrating their kinship systems and featured a soundtrack explaining the complex traditions shared from the knowledge holders.
3. What were the design considerations, if any?
Designing light installations for a hot, dry climate such as central Australia is challenging. Design and production teams must factor the harsh weather conditions into the design and materials of each light installation. We developed a lighting design for the Todd Mall precinct in the centre of town, activating an area that had been under-utilised by the local population. This became a permanent installation because it was embraced by local businesses, visitors, and the community.
4. What are some of the trends in how light festivals and other entertainment application are engaging audiences of various ages? Can you give an example?
Technology improves and evolves at a rapid rate, as does the curiosity of our audience. It’s important that a light festival such as Parrtjima delivers a strong narrative and engages the audience in such a way that they can interact with some of the light installations. This year, audiences had the opportunity to select colours from a virtual palette and design their own lighting treatment for the 2km installation on the MacDonnell Ranges.
5. What makes this project unique? Are there lessons that Asia, US or Europe can learn from?
Creating a light festival that features artists and light art installations from the First Australians in the desert is certainly a unique experience. We at AGB Events feel very honoured to be the ‘enablers’ of this new light festival.
The lessons we have learned include the importance of listening to our reference group that comprises of the many Indigenous families that live in central Australia and hearing from them as to what narrative the festival should convey.
Most importantly, we have learned that audiences are keen to have authentic cultural experiences. This is evident by the growth in the popularity of Parrtjima in just four years, the light festival is regarded as one of the most significant public events of national significance.
6. How is technology uniquely used to best engage audience and increase visitors? Can you give an example?
One of the light installations is called Grounded. Although the creative content featured in Grounded changes each year, it has become the light installation that engages the audiences the most as audiences are able to interact with it. Children absolutely love it!
Grounded features a selection of artworks by local Indigenous artists that are digitally recreated and animated to appear as the artist is painting in real time and the story of the artwork comes to life. The artworks are projected onto the red earth, and it resonates with audiences as we have used modern technology to reference sand art.
7. What can we expect from Parrtjima 2020?
We have just concluded the 4th edition of Parrtjima, and the audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive as was the increase in audience numbers. Soon we will meet with the Indigenous reference group and work with them to enable another spectacular authentic Indigenous light festival.
8. What’s next for AGB Events?
AGB Events creates concepts that contain a strong narrative and use the latest advancements in technology to tell these stories. By bringing projection technologies to interiors, we have begun building a new repertoire of storytelling projects for major cultural institutions. Following the success of our permanent installation in the Australian Museum, Treasures Illuminated, we are expanding this discipline area of AGB to help other clients bring their stories to light.
Another example of this discipline area began in the National Library of Australia. We are preparing for an international tour of our digital sound and light show entitled Beauty Rich and Rare. This innovative exhibition illuminates Australia’s unique flora and fauna collected by Sir Joseph Banks and the scientists and illustrators who travelled on the HMB Endeavour 250 years ago.
Beauty Rich and Rare was commissioned by the National Library of Australia, and our team of animators at AGB were given full access to the Library’s collection and reimagined the artefacts to create this engaging show.
AGB Events is also expanding our creative consultancy discipline. We are working with a series of international clients to help them embed unique creative solutions in their cultural placemaking plans. Spanning major international events, cultural institutions, and urban precincts, this discipline area of AGB is fast becoming a major expansion area of our creative agency.