Blue moon, White Night
I know, I know…it’s been a really long time since I last posted. I think I’ve become a blue moon blogger (as in, once in a…), however I can’t let White Night Melbourne 2013 (which went to this past Saturday night) pass by un-noted.
White Night Melbourne is part of an internationally renowned phenomenon that began in Paris. This was the first time an Australian city has held a White Night event.
White Night (which is the anglicisation of Nuit Blanche) was originally conceived in Paris, France in 2002, as an attempt to make art and culture accessible to large audiences, within public spaces. Nowadays, twenty three cities around the world hold similar all-night events. The events are seen as an opportunity to showcase a city’s art, music, food and culture.
White Night Melbourne went from 7pm until 7am and comprised over 80 free events. Some were big band stages, or huge lighting installations that were hard to miss, others were tiny performances or artworks tucked away down laneways. Plus, the top cultural institutions (museums, galleries, theatres) kept their doors open all night.
We headed into the city late afternoon to get parking and to have dinner before the crowds descended.
And walked through our favourite Hosier Lane, which has an ever-changing array of street art.
This was, of course, a personal message to me.
The sun was getting lower as we left the restaurant to wander back down to Federation Square, where…
…there was dancing!
We couldn’t resist a Zumba. But with heat and high humidity, it was…let’s just say…a damp experience.
The crowd swelled.
As did the foam oozing slowly, but continuously out of Michel Blazy’s Bouquet Final 2 in the Great Hall of the NGV International. We arrived just as the artist was giving a ‘pop-up’ talk about the sculpture. The foam had the most bizarre consistency – like frothed body butter.
By this time, the sun was very low.
Flinders Street Station before dark…
…and after!
‘Stained glass’ illuminations on the wall of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Aptly titled, Mark 1:28 (by Phil Lethlean). In case you’re wondering, Mark 1:28 in the King James version of the Bible says, “And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee”. The information board nearby said the illumination portrays the fame and adoration of sports stars, as well as the transcendence experienced by spectators.
If we’d hung around, The Cat Empire was performing on the Flinders Street Station steps at 2am.
Works from the National Gallery of Victoria’s collection were projected onto the Gallery’s exterior walls.
It was mesmerising to watch.
And back on Flinders Street, a huge illumination project totally changed the appearance of the buildings we see day-in day-out on our way to work.
We left at a very early 10:30pm, and at that stage the dancing style in Federation Square was swing, but we passed on that opportunity…
…as I feel my interpretation of swing, would induce this kind of reaction from spectators.
(This is actually an artwork in the foyer of NGV Australia (Ian Potter Centre)…but I failed to note the artist’s name and now I can’t find any details.)
As we walked back to the car, we passed the ‘Loading Bay Cinema‘ – deckchairs lined up in the loading bay of Federation Square, in front of a screen showing quirky movies.
We felt we only scratched the surface of White Night, but had a fabulous time. I’m already looking forward to next year’s and my plan is to get an apartment or hotel room in the city for the night so we can come and go to events all through the early hours of the morning.
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