January 28, 2015: As the G20 Leaders’ Summit wrapped up in November 2014 in Brisbane, the city put up a magnificent interactive light show, marking an end to a spectacular cultural event. Both the Queensland capital and the skills of Australia’s lighting designers were showcased on the world stage during the event, as buildings across the city were bathed in light. The almost month long event, Colour Me Brisbane, included hundreds of wall washers, high powered spotlights and a host of colour changing LED lights designed to show visitors and locals that Australia is no slouch when it comes to the latest lighting technologies.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2014 was held on November 15 and 16, 2014 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Bank, Brisbane.
Approximately 4000 delegates and as many as 3000 domestic and international media representatives were present during the Summit to witness this spectacular show. The G20 Cultural Celebrations showcased Australia not just to the international media and global leaders but also to the people of Queensland and Australia.
Parliament House was one of the high profile buildings to receive a makeover, with the historic location turned into a canvas for a moving lighting display. The building’s façade showcased circular flags from around the world, in vibrant crisp colours, in keeping with the event’s theme of international unity.
The light show was not limited to just one building, however; Colour Me Brisbane took over the whole city, with temporary light installations at Brisbane Square, Quay Central, the State Law Building and the entire Story Bridge.
Adding to this magnificent spectacle was the light show on the Brisbane River. From the Gateway Bridge to Queensland University of Technology, 20 City Cat ferries strung with LEDs created a kaleidoscope of colour on the water using geo-fenced technology. As the Cats made their way from the city to the suburbs, the muddy brown river was transformed into a Mondrian like canvas. Boring buildings that the locals see every day were completely transformed by LEDs. One of the capital’s least loved structures, the Executive Annexe, was the most densely lit and featured 32 colour etchings.
All the magic was created by the firm, 32 Hundred Lighting, which has made Australia its canvas for countless spectacular events. The creators and innovators have been pushing the limits in lighting art and technology with the development of its latest software. The firm has developed an app that can be used on any building or structure, anywhere in the world, and be activated remotely as well.
The Colour Me Brisbane project, at a glance
- 150 high power Philips
- colour reaches
- 200 custom high output
- LED cans
- 60 colour blasts
- A wireless network covering ½ a million sq m
- 2 custom in-house coded applications
- 2 custom interactive touch screens
- 40 m tape for each City Cat
- Geo-fence technology
Brisbane buildings that were lit up:
- Quay Central
- Mercure Hotel
- State Law Building
- Brisbane Square
- Treasury Casino & Hotel
- Old State Library
- Treasury Hotel
- 111 George St
- 63 George St
- Mineral House
- Neville Bonner Building
- Metro 21
- Parliamentary Annexe
- Parliament House
- Story Bridge
- 20 City Cat ferries
