What is the collective noun for a group of fireflies? A swarm seems too beastly. A lantern? A twinkle? A shimmer of fireflies?  Firefly Field is...

Firefly Field

Location:

Queen Elizabeth II Gates
2000 NSW
Australia

Venue:
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Image. Hundreds of glowing orbs dart and bob above stretches of lawn. Hovering erratically, they cast small moving spotlights, forming a dynamic luminous carpet across the grass. A footpath leads between the Firefly Fields, allowing visitors to find themselves surrounded by this whimsical display.Firefly Field - Vivid Light 2019

Access and Inclusion

  • Audio Described - Audio description is a service provided for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Trained audio describers give live, objective, verbal descriptions.
  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.

Event Details

Artists:
Toer: Castor Bours / Wouter Widdershoven (The Netherlands)

What is the collective noun for a group of fireflies? A swarm seems too beastly. A lantern? A twinkle? A shimmer of fireflies? 

Firefly Field is a mesmerising installation of 500 flying light points that simulate the movements these nocturnal lampyridae. Glowing. Darting. Hovering above the ground. The ever-changing bioluminescence of each one is reflected in the grassy slope. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. On mass, they create a dynamic light scene that triggers visitors’ curiosity and awe.

With Firefly Field, Dutch artists Toer share their fascination for the aesthetics and movement of these tiny winged creatures, and their interest in the way dynamic moving light can express a mood. This minimalist arrangement consists of LED light points housed in transparent capsules supported on superfine, barely visible steel rods that flex and spring with the weight of the pod, giving each firefly its unpredictable and natural movement.

Toer is a multidisciplinary design collective from The Netherlands that creates lively interventions using an explorative and experimental approach. For Vivid Light 2016, Toer collaborated with Australian light artists McDermott-Baxter to create a wind-driven installation Spice Winds.

 

Country represented by installation: The Netherlands

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Audio Description

Access and Inclusion

  • Audio Described - Audio description is a service provided for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Trained audio describers give live, objective, verbal descriptions.
  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.

Sponsors

Toer