Kaleidoscope by Nicholas Azidis; White Night Festival 2014 – State Library of Victoria, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Melbourne’s State Library of Victoria was transformed during the 2014 White Night festival by Nicholas Azidis’ Kaleidoscope; an analogue projection that explored the mysterious world of microscopic plant forms. As botanical projections were shot onto the building’s façade, it went through a miraculous and colourful metamorphosis. Nicholas Azidis works in the specialised medium of analogue projections. As a projection artist, his investigations have resulted in the creation of more than 1500 projection installations that create distinctive moods, atmospheric transformations, nostalgic and abstract forms.
The White Night Festival in Melbourne is a State Government of Victoria initiative created by the Victorian Major Events Company. Originally conceived in Paris in 2002, to make vibrant and dynamic art and culture accessible to large audiences in public spaces, Paris’ Nuit Blanche (White Night) has inspired an international network of similar programmes in over twenty cities globally, including Melbourne.
In 2013 Melbourne became the first Australian city to create its own White Night Festival, producing an all night event of light, colour and artistry. The White Night Festival, now in its second year, is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Melbourne as Australia’s international city of artistic innovation, and celebrate the city’s commitment to modern and interpretive art, music and culture.
The main Swanston Street facade of the State Library of Victoria is built of sandstone in an English Palladian manner, with central Corinthian portico and flanking wings which terminate in projecting pavilions. A giant order, supporting an entablature and balustrading, runs across the undulating, two storey facade. The classical character continues in the interior of the Queen's Hall reading room, which was designed with a central space encircled by galleried aisles, delineated by a giant Ionic order colonnade.
Kaleidoscope by Nicholas Azidis; White Night Festival 2014 – State Library of Victoria, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Melbourne’s State Library of Victoria was transformed during the 2014 White Night festival by Nicholas Azidis’ Kaleidoscope; an analogue projection that explored the mysterious world of microscopic plant forms. As botanical projections were shot onto the building’s façade, it went through a miraculous and colourful metamorphosis. Nicholas Azidis works in the specialised medium of analogue projections. As a projection artist, his investigations have resulted in the creation of more than 1500 projection installations that create distinctive moods, atmospheric transformations, nostalgic and abstract forms.
The White Night Festival in Melbourne is a State Government of Victoria initiative created by the Victorian Major Events Company. Originally conceived in Paris in 2002, to make vibrant and dynamic art and culture accessible to large audiences in public spaces, Paris’ Nuit Blanche (White Night) has inspired an international network of similar programmes in over twenty cities globally, including Melbourne.
In 2013 Melbourne became the first Australian city to create its own White Night Festival, producing an all night event of light, colour and artistry. The White Night Festival, now in its second year, is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Melbourne as Australia’s international city of artistic innovation, and celebrate the city’s commitment to modern and interpretive art, music and culture.
The main Swanston Street facade of the State Library of Victoria is built of sandstone in an English Palladian manner, with central Corinthian portico and flanking wings which terminate in projecting pavilions. A giant order, supporting an entablature and balustrading, runs across the undulating, two storey facade. The classical character continues in the interior of the Queen's Hall reading room, which was designed with a central space encircled by galleried aisles, delineated by a giant Ionic order colonnade.