Above image of the inaugural White Night by Tyson Armstrong.

White Night 2015 hits the ground running tomorrow night in Melbourne at 7pm. Be prepared for a 12-hour extravaganza of light, movement, music and theatre. Last year, the crowds voted with their presence, with more than 500,000 people in attendance enjoying the sights and sounds that the event presented. This year, the program has been expanded, as has the geographical footprint to accommodate the expected crowd. For the designer within there are myriad choices; however, after chatting with Andrew Walsh artistic director of White Night, we have complied a list of his recommendations as must-see events that will extend your creativity and broaden your perspective.

KEYFRAMES, Groupe LAPS – NGV International moat

KEYFRAMES

KEYFRAMES is an installation of luminous plastic bodies that will transform the front of the National Gallery of Victoria. It is based on the principles of kinetics and the segmentation of movement into component parts using programmed lighting sequences to create a bridge between sculpture and movies. This installation was inspired by the pioneers of photography in the 19th century and brings the technique of chronophotography to life with the help of new technological tools.

4 Elements, Ocubo – Royal Exhibition Building façade

4 Elements, by Ocubo

Through the magic of light, 4 Elements recreates the four elements of life – earth, water, fire and air. These elements will be interpreted by four dancers – two from the National Dance Company of Portugal, one aerial circus artist and a synchronised swimming dancer – who, through video mapping projection, will interact with the grandeur of the architecture of the building. Artistic direction is by Nuno Maya and there is an original sound composition by French composer Sylvain Moreau.

Some still cry when it rains
– City Square

Image: Robbie Rowlands, Silo projection – Wright farm Yuengroon.

Robbie Rowlands, in collaboration with the Charlton community, contributes another confronting sculptural installation to White Night this year. Some still cry when it rains looks at both the trauma of the 2011 floods and the current drought that is affecting the regional Victorian town of Charlton. Rowlands’ representation of the familiar challenges us to question the structures that support our needs. This evocative work captures a moment in time, opening the way for a conversation and consideration of rural life.

Sita’s Garden – Birrarung Marr

Image: Manmohoni dancers

Now for colour and movement. Directed by Andrew Walsh and co-curated by Kate Ben-Tovim and Pallavi Sharda, Sita’s Garden is an homage to all things bright and beautiful, with a little help from the supreme capital of Indian style music and dance, Bollywood. The banks of the Yarra River will be transformed into a Little India, complete with Indian streets and an enormous and surreal glowing lotus pond. A floating stage will host performances ranging from Bollywood movies, Bharata Natyam dance and Bhangra to Australian/Indian collaborations, along with some very special guest artists. For your pleasure, there will be Bollywood murals, projections, Indian street food and a welcome to the rising sun with a sun salutation sequence. For the inner muso and dancer in all of us, this is a ‘not to be missed’ occasion!

Chorus – Queen Victoria Gardens

Image by Farrows Creative

Chorus is a monumental installation of kinetic sound sculptures by artist Ray Lee, who was the 2012 British Composer of the Year for Sonic Art. Chorus is represented by a series of giant metal tripods that support rotating arms with loudspeakers and red lights placed at the end of each arm. Precisely tuned musical pitches create a pulsating, harmonic drone and the lights trace rings in the sky high above the heads of the audience. The combination of the light and sound is both mesmerising and transfixing.

History Zero – Queen Victoria Gardens

Image: Stefanos Tsivopoulos History Zero, 2013 (video still) Courtesy of the artist and Kalfayan Galleries, Athens – Thessaloniki.

History Zero is a film in three short episodes accompanied by an archive of texts and images. Created by Stefanos Tsivopoulous, the film’s narrative explores the effect that monetary exchange can have in human relations, and the political and social implications.

Sofles – Graffiti Mapped – Secret Spots…

Image by Selina Miles

Sofles – Graffiti Mapped is a pioneering interactive mural project curated by Juddy Roller, which explores the interconnected nature of street art, technology and the online frontier. Through the use of digital projection technology, Sofles’ work will come to life through the use of dynamic lighting effects complete with crumbling bricks. The 3D video and animation elements will add another layer to the complex urban collaboration of the graffiti artist and the urban environment.

Magazine in a Night – Wheeler Centre

Image: Connor Tomas O’Brien

The Wheeler Centre will be energised by the Emerging Writers’ Festival’s Magazine in a Night. The magazine will be constructed live, and edited and designed on stage. The design process will be projected onto a screen and audiences will be given an insight into the process and production of a publication. Throughout the night, a series of conversation sessions will be held with local Melbourne guests involved in the production of magazines. There will also be the opportunity to join a live writing space, where attendees can submit work for inclusion.