Originally conceived in Paris in 2002, White Night or Nuit Blanche is not translation for THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE!! but a dusk ’til dawn showcase of art and culture.
Catching a train into an estimated crowd of 100,000 thousand people, only to discover it was closer to 300,000 thousand was a little eye-watering but retreating to the less crowded lane ways gave us the stamina to weave through the masses, dropping into galleries, installations and street performances along the way.
Beasts from Behind, an installation on Swanston Street that projected strange creatures onto a gigantic screen and allowed the public to stand in and participate with their shadows, was a highlight for me. Maybe that had something to do with working on Collins Street for ten years and recognising some former bosses.
Another incredible spectacle was The Electric Canvas. A large-scale projection that adorned the city’s buildings in an array of dazzling shapes and colours.
Given that I am no longer twenty-two, it was around this time my legs begged me to move onto somewhere less crowded and provide them with some sustenance in the form of an over-priced Neil Perry cocktail.
Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to catch a third of the art on display but it’s heartening to learn White Night will be on again in 2014 and 2015. Also, did you know if you tweet from the calm oasis of a writing centre, chances are other bloggers will track you down? How cool is that?
Did you catch any of White Night? Did you make it until 7am, if so I salute so!
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