Aus Lights on the River 2024

Who

The Australia Day Council of South Australia

Where

Elder Park, Adelaide

When

25-26 January 2024
5:30 pm to 11:00 pm

What

Creative Direction and Curatorial Services

Aus Lights on the River is an annual event that brings people together to share conversation and create meaning around what it means to be living in Australia.  Unique animations and soundscapes, curated film research, and installations for the site have been supported by Epson through sponsorship of high powered projectors, as part of their Epson Projection Art Ambassador program.

Illuminart were involved to support the event through the leadership of Cindi Drennan as Creative Director of the Aus Lights visual installations program, to which illuminart added a stunning Rotunda projection, illustrious projection on to the Festival Centre, immersive animation of a dome, and contributions to the digital screens on stage.

This year’s creative program continued to explore the themes of Belonging to Country and Connecting to Nature, showcasing South Australia through immersive visually engaging light, vision, and sound installations supported with complimentary hands-on creative making experiences for families and children.

The Luminous Currents seaquarium and the Leaping Light of waterways, were augmented by the appearance Sparkle the Cuttlefish from Whyalla. Audiences were invited to lose themselves into a Marine Maze, dive into the Odyssey Dome for a VR undersea adventure, bask on the banks of our Illuminated Country with something scrumptious from the Food Hub and enjoy the Cinematic Fireworks.

This glowing two afternoon-into-evening event was held in Elder Park on the 25th and 26th of January 2024 to bring South Australian people together in reflection and acknowledgement of the uniquely interwoven perspectives of our identity and culture.  Created in collaboration with First Nation elders and traditional owners, Aus Lights on the River connects all of us with our collective story.

This is an exciting vision in Elder Park that builds on the successes of the inaugural Aus Lights on the River 2022 and Aus Lights on the River 2023.

Scroll down for more information, music links and detailed credits or check out the official programme here:

https://australiadaysa.com.au/australia-day-2024/

We couldn't imagine living anywhere else!

  • Explore a glorious seaquarium in the round with Luminous Currents at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Get to know Sparkles the Cuttlefish at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Join an immersive adventure inside Sparkles the Cuttlefish at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Explore a reef and discover the secret stories of biodiversity at Aus Lights on the River 2024 - Art by Debbie Seater
  • Explore the magic and biodiversity within the Marine Maze at Aus Lights on the River 2024 - Image by Keryn Hyslop
  • Sneak peek with Marty Hopkins at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Drilling for seaweed with amazing helper Simon Tait at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Foil Fish from a South Australian community project The Salty Forest are perfect additions to the marine maze at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Port PIrie artists Georgia Northcott makes light work of seaweed weaving at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Sparkles the Cuttefish joins us from Whyalla thanks to Whyalla City Council and Gail Rostig.
  • James is hanging with the jellyfish at at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • The green, green glow of Scyphozoa at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Kristen Messenger of Bugs and Slugs gets all gooey about jellyfish!
  • Many birds have inextricable links to local marine systems
  • Many birds contribution to the cycle of life in our waterways.
  • Fish of the spencer Gulf, illustration by Debbie Seater of Wallaroo, animated by Alice Peacock. magnified on the Festival Shells at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Enter an Ocean Odyssey with a special VR experience courtesy of Carl Charter from Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Enter an Ocean Odyssey with a special VR experience courtesy of Carl Charter from Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries at Aus Lights on the River 2024
  • Enter an Ocean Odyssey with a special VR experience courtesy of Carl Charter from Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries at Aus Lights on the River 2024
see the rest

  • More info

    Carl Charter operates his own business, Experience Marine Sanctuaries , travelling all over South Australia, introducing marine life to experts and novices alike through regular diving experiences and fun educational experiences. He is passionate about marine ecology and caters for the accessibility needs of all people. Step into virtual reality with footage taken with incredible, 360° cameras. , kids and kids at heart will be able to dive headfirst toward the ocean floor, getting up close and personal with an array of marine life.

    Georgia Northcott is an inspiring and insightful regional SA Artist from the Spencer Gulf who runs her own business in Port Pirie. She is working remotely for illuminart on this project in a supporting creative development capacity. This builds on previous project work with the team over the last several years including The Salty Forest and Constellation Stories in Light.

    Kristen Messenger is the ‘bug lady’ and her team are regularly on the go all over South Australia showcasing their menagerie of creatures. Kris has played some incredible roles within the development of key waterside facilities. Her knowledge of not only the creatures, big and small that live within our waterways, but how they interact with the animals that fly above and live alongside is second to none. She most recently worked with illuminart on the Salty Forest project in Port Pirie. Kris is joining us on this project as a workshop facilitator.

    Monica Pritchard regularly runs workshops for juniors and her clever craft brain loves utilising recycled materials. Find Monica at the evening workshops alongside Michelle and Kristen helping us all keep South Australia’s aquatic life thriving and beautiful.

    Evelyn Ross is the founder of the colourful and immersive Nylon Zoo, bringing to life recycled materials, to create vibrant inflatable creatures that light up events. This year, Sparkles the cuttlefish will help colour our the imaginations of attendees as they quite literally dive within this beautiful creature, place a costume over their clothing, and take their own role within the teams beloved ‘storytelling’ experience.

    Gail Rostig is a core part of the team at Whyalla City Council and is a driving force in the city’s Cuttlefest, She is dedicated to helping promote regional arts and culture.  Thanks to Gail, the City of Whyalla and Evelyn Roth, Sparkles the cuttlefish joins us as a special guest at this year’s Aus Lights on the River.

    Pete Ardron and Samantha Ray are long term musical collaborators who were commissioned to compose for the Cinematic Fireworks and also provided the supporting seaquarium soundscape “Interuterion“.

  • Our Partners

    Australia Day Council of SA logo

  • Project Team

  • credits

    Phil Hind, Don – Cutting Edge Services
    James – Bugs and Slugs
    Karl Chehade – Chehade Dry Cleaners
    Simon Tait – Ad Movement
    Marty Hopkins – Reactor Media
    Debbie Seater – Marine illustrations
    Kerryn Hislop – Marine illustrations

    Featured music – Interuterion – Samantha Ray and Pete Ardron

  • In the Media

  • Project Data

    Project ID # 1370

    Project Type:
    Creative Direction and Curatorial Services