Illuminate Adelaide
Illuminate Pavilion, 15th July 2022
(Reviewed by John Glennie)
Wasn’t too sure where this was, until I saw an enormous pavilion in the middle of the road, in between where the Fringe is normally held.
I was expecting a walk-through experience as we had through Light Cycles in the Botanic Gardens the week prior. Instead, it is a massive open hall with a few boxes scattered around for guests to sit on if the desire.
Once it starts, you are totally immersed in an incredible light show – literally, there is a constant stream of images 360-degrees around all 4 walls as well as on the floor. There are various themes, with the first – Leonardo Da Vinci – being the standout and going for the longest. There are numerous, massive images of his famous works – paintings such as Mona Lisa, sculptures like Moses, etc – brilliantly displayed then seemingly dissolving away in coloured balls or crumbling blocks.
The information relating to each theme, apart from being displayed in the entry hall, are also projected on the screen closely followed by the related images. All the themes, such as DataGat (NASA), Dark Machine, are very impressive and captivating. However, by the end of the roughly 40-minute show, my partner and I were getting a little bored. We both commented that too many of the images “fell away” in balls or blocks. Also, the music didn’t really change style throughout. Having also seen Light Cycles, where each scene had music relative to the light show, we thought this could also follow a similar theme.
Despite this, it is definitely a light show that is well worth the visit. Glancing around at the crowd, I had to wonder why some of the groups wasted their money as they spent most of the time talking and not even looking at the displays! Oh well, takes all sorts. I enjoyed watching the creativity of the entire event.
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