To celebrate the opening weekend of the Perth International Arts Festival Kings Park will be showcasing 3 nights of dazzling imagery and sound.
The opening weekend is February 10, 11 and 12. The showcase titled Boorna Waaginy: The Trees Speak is a magical experience for the whole family and is proudly supported by Lottery West.
Animations, 3D projections, sound and lighting effects will immerse audiences in the wonder of the opening weekend installation. The experience will demonstrate the natural splendour and diversity of the Noongar six seasons of the South West.
Director Nigel Jamieson rejoins the creative team for 2017 after a successful 2016 opening event with Home. Kings Park are committed to maintaining the survival of species which it displays around the park.
The Trees Speak covers 5 different sections: Six Seasons, Knowledge, Creation Stories: Coming of Colours, Extinctions and Seeds of Change.
Six seasons will be a transformation of Fraser’s Avenue tunnel of trees, the eucalypts will bloom in vivid colours as beautiful birds and animals lead visitors on an exciting journey of discovery. Knowledge will celebrate Western science and traditional Indigenous relationships with country which are changing our views of ecology.
The six seasons being explored by the exhibition are: Makuru, the season of fertility and first rains, Dijiba, the second rain, wetlands and conception, Kambarang, Wildflower season of birth and new life, Birak, The first summer, Bunuru, the second summer season of heat and fire, Djeran, Adulthood and the season of ripeness, knowledge and maturity.
Creation Stories will tell the stories of Jindalee and the creation of the Milky Way and the formation of the banksia woodlands. Extinctions is a walk towards the Pioneers Women’s Memorial the spectacular imagery will reveal beauty and fragility of our fauna and flora and be a beautiful memorial for extinct species. Seeds of Change is an installation made with WA young people a multitude of glowing lanterns will represent species adopted to children to protect.
Speaking of the festival Jamieson said “I hope our work together on Boorna Waanginy will delight and amaze the public who witness our transformations of the park, It’s been a thrilling journey working alongside great artists, Noongar elders, scientists and botanists to put this show together about the wonder of the unique and fragile ecosystems of the South West.”
PIAF Artistic Director Wendy Martin said “In May 1967, Australians voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to improve the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people, 50 years on Boorna Waaginy: The Trees Speak will be a landmark expression of Reconciliation to mark that Anniversary.”
“Kings Park as a canvas is a thrilling concept and I know this experience will astound and amaze us all” said Martin.
The installation spans 1.2km but the full circuit is 2.4km so the organisers recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothing and carrying as little as possible.
The event is Free to the public over the course of the 3 nights. The show is replayed over the course of the evening allowing for people to enter and leave at their own pace. Food outlets are available near the entrance at the Malcolm street Kings Park road roundabout and at the finish at the corner of Forrest Drive and Lovekin Drive.
As Kings Park is closed to vehicles during the installation free shuttle buses will be running between Elizabeth Quay Bus Port and Kings Park road between 7pm and 11:15pm.
A ceremonial Welcome to Country will be performed on opening night at 7:45pm before the event begins on Friday 10th February. The duration is 45 minutes and attendees are welcome to enter anytime between 8pm and 10:30pm.
