Following the success of Fremantle Biennale’s First Lights: Moombaki (2021) and First Lights: Balarr Inyiny (2022), the spectacle of light and sound that illuminated the night sky will take flight across regional Western Australia this year to share ancient stories of place.
From March – July, the choreographed drone light show First Lights will travel across the State, illuminating the skies over a number of regional locations including the South West, Great Southern, Gascoyne, Pilbara and Goldfields regions.
Commissioned by the Fremantle Biennale, the large-scale contemporary artform involves choreographing a fleet of nearly 200 drones with powerful LED lights through specialist 3D animation techniques.
Multiple shows will be presented to share ancient knowledge, living stories and history of place specific to each location, led by Traditional Owners and Aboriginal artists.
Tom Mùller, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Fremantle Biennale, said First Lights creates and connects diverse audiences to an arts experience of significant depth and scale.
“First Lights creates a meaningful opportunity to centre local stories within a major contemporary art event. The narratives connect to significant events in each region, sharing little-known knowledge, story and histories that aim to inspire celebration and unite the community,” he said.
With the ability to create more than four billion colour combinations, the innovative technology used to deliver the First Lights shows has a greater range of effects than fireworks and a light ecological footprint. Each show is accompanied by a cinematic soundscape to create an immersive experience, free and accessible for all.
Baiyungu Traditional Owner and lead cultural knowledge holder for First Lights: Nyinggalu, to be presented in Coral Bay and Exmouth, Hazel Walgar, said the project represents a significant opportunity to pay tribute to Traditional stories.
“First Lights provides a platform for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal artists to come together, explore new artforms and share ancient and living stories of place that reflect our culture and identity,” she said.
First Lights will be presented across six locations from March – July 2023, supported by the Australian Government, State Government, Art on the Move and Minderoo Foundation.
Ella McNeill, Director of Minderoo’s Arts & Culture initiative said it was exciting to see the project reach a wider audience after the extraordinary success of Moombaki.
“Minderoo is proud to be supporting the Fremantle Biennale team to take the extraordinary First Lights project to communities in regional WA. I’m thrilled that regional communities will soon experience First Nations stories of place lighting up their night skies,” she said.
For more information visit: www.firstlights.com.au
FIRST LIGHTS REGIONAL PROGRAM 2023
First Lights: Binalup 8 April 2023 – Binalup/Middleton Beach, Albany Artists: Kim Scott with the Menang Traditional Custodians Co-presented with the City of Albany
First Lights: Nyinggalu 19 April 2023 – Cardabia Station, Coral Bay 20 April 2023 – Town Beach, Exmouth Artists: Hazel Walgar and Sonya Edney Co-presented with the Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation and Tourism WA as a part of the Dark Sky Festival
First Lights: Boodja Dwordak Wirn 12-13 May 2023 – Esperance Foreshore Artists: Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation Co-presented with Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation
First Lights: East Pilbara 7-9 July 2023 – Location to be announced Co-presented with Martumili Artists and the Shire of East Pilbara
First Lights: Cowaramup Date to be announced – Cowaramup Bay/Gracetown Beach, Gracetown Artists: Mitchella Hutchins and Viv Brockman Webb Co-presented with The Farm Margaret River
For more information: www.firstlights.com.au