Enlighten 2017

The Enlighten festival (held in early March each year) has become a must see experience for us.  We are still taking the cheap option and only going to the free events - but don't feel short-changed at all.  The Parliamentary Triangle explodes with light, with colour, with music and with quirky fun. 

Last year our local Government robbed the artists who decorated the buildings by offering them 'exposure' rather than payment.  This was particularly cheap (and nasty) because none of the artists were identified.  I am glad to say that public outcry meant that this year (and I hope for all the years to come) the artists received payment.

We took two trips to the festival, and loved them both.

Settle in with a beverage of choice.  There are a LOT of photos to come.

I am going to start with the new quirky splashes of colour and whimsy which we saw on our second visit.

'Cloud' was made from discarded light bulbs, and those 'strings of rain' allowed the onlooker to turn on (or off) segments of the installation.

  
These gentlemen were wandering nearby.

These were young women on stilts wearing illuminated dresses.  I was fascinated by the way that the dress and the light made the wearer disappear...

And then on to the illuminated buildings.  I loved the way that the illuminations (which change every minute or so) on each building were a reflection of the building's purpose.  On each night we started at the National Gallery and worked our way down through the Parliamentary Triangle.

The National Gallery currently has a special exhibition, Versailles - Treasures of the  Palace.  An incredibly opulent, over the top and indulgent time for the ruling class.

We then wandered past the ever changing gum tree illuminations to the Portrait Gallery.  This year the Portrait Gallery had an interactive focus.  The public were invited to enter a photo booth and then the photos joined the others scrolling across the building (and no, we declined the offer).  It was very popular and the queues were long.

I apologise for the blurred images.  They were scrolling past faster than my fingers could cope.

The next stop was Questacon, our interactive Science and technology building.

And then to the National Library which mostly focused on Australian women (with a lovely nod to some of our indigenous achievers), and made a detour into native flora and fauna.

And the last stop of the evenings (and the post), Old Parliament House (aka The Museum of Democracy.

There really is a lot to see and do.  The crowds at this event are always pleasant too, which isn't always true of mixed gatherings.  A win.