For the past 12 months, individuals have been working hard to brighten up the city of Sydney, Australia. Finally, on May 18th, the project was officially completed and unveiled. 557 LED lights were used in a display, called Luminous at Darling Quarter, to enhance the role of Darling Quarter as the new face of digital arts in Australia. According to Nine to Five newspaper, Bruce Ramus, creator of the display, stated “the digital façade will add radiance and playfulness to the precinct and bring people together in the spirit of creating light and art for others to enjoy.”
Energy efficient LED lights, provided by Klik Systems, are used to ensure that the presentation is environmentally sound. The entire display uses the same amount of energy as five household vacuum cleaners! When lit, workers inside of the building will be unaware, as not to distract them from their usual duties. The display stands four stories high and stretches to reach a total of 150 meters in length, making it the largest visual interactive display in the world. The artwork is interactive because it will feature content generated by various groups within the community, as well as artists both local and international. The display will also incorporate public interaction through games and artwork. Several games guests can compete in include Big Snake, Pong, Finger Paint, Kangaroo Crossing, Gyro Dance, and Plasma. People can also use their smartphones as means of interacting with the exhibition. If one’s design is chosen to be displayed, friends and family may visit the website to view the display in real-time.
The purpose of the display was to associate art with community involvement as well as commercial liveliness. A member of the Darling Quarter explains in more detail: “the interactive component of Darling Quarter is like no other in the world. The digital façade allows guests to engage with the precinct. This type of social interaction gives Darling Quarter a new dimension of engagement.” Members of the community can experience the green and innovative display six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, once the sun sets.
