Museum’s roof to become underwater wonderland in Aquatic Nights

by Jude Timms on 23 Apr 2014 The Australian National Maritime Museum’s iconic 1,700 square metre roof will transform into an underwater wonderland and its historic vessels and surrounds will be illuminated in Aquatic nights during Vivid Sydney from 23 May to 9 June 2014.

To complement its Whale Season with major exhibitions, Amazing Whales – Evolution and Survival and Survival and Beautiful Whale – Life size photography by Bryant Austin, the Aquatic nights rooftop projection and soundtrack will take inspiration from marine environments. Audiences will experience the majesty of ocean life in all its forms from graceful whales to playful dolphins and mysterious creatures of the deep.

Set to an aquatic-inspired soundtrack the roof will pulse to the ebb and flow of ocean currents. This thought-provoking spectacle demonstrates the diversity of our amazing oceans and how we interact with this incredible eco-system.

Created by The Electric Canvas the Aquatic Nights roof projection will premiere on 23 May 2014, and run nightly from 6pm – 11pm until 9 June 2014 with synced audio across Pyrmont Bridge.

The museum’s basin, historic vessels and Cape Bowling Green lighthouse will also be bathed in light and its harbourside walkway will remain open every evening during the festival to give everyone the best opportunity to experience the spectacle (until 9pm during the week and 12pm on weekends). Visiting vessel, Sea Shepherd’s Sam Simon, fresh from its recent campaign in the Souther Oceans, will be available for visitors to step on board on weekend evenings.

Vivid Sydney goers are also invited to kick back and enjoy a program of free live music and DJs on selected weekend evenings during the festival when its waterside café, Yots, will transform into an aquatic inspired pop up bar serving tapas.

Aquatic Nights is inspired by the museum’s Whale Season featuring two major international exhibitions. Amazing Whales - Evolution and survival from Paris immerses visitors in the world of whales and highlights the importance of conservation to their future survival and Beautiful whale – life-size photography by Bryant Austin is a remarkable photographic exhibition where visitors come face-to-face with giant underwater images of whales at sea. For further information, click here.

The Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour is open daily. Call 02 9298 3777 or log onto www.anmm.gov.au/vivid for more information.