The Light Teleportal was a project I undertook for Vivid 2019 along with a couple of colleagues at Switch Media (Colin Hendry and Kevin Staunton-Lambert). As the lead artist I oversaw and participated in the the design, planning and construction of the installation. The the installation came in two pieces (portals) that were installed at the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney. The concept was to have two gateways and allow viewers to communicate through them using the motion of their body as a visual language. The design concept was inspired by the Gates To Heaven that can be seen around Bali but given an alien and retro-tech aesthetic.
Official Artwork Summary
Rising from the earth, two otherworldly spires of light have been unearthed in the streets of Sydney. Their origin is a mystery. Their purpose unknown. Is this ancient technology the last remaining vestige of an advanced but long-forgotten civilisation? Or the remnants of an alien race, left here eons ago on a mission to explore new worlds?
After millennia lying dormant, we can only assume they were once antennae to another realm. Newly rediscovered, these extraordinary portals gift us the ability to communicate beyond time, space and language.
Stand before one of the two gateways and be transported to a place where communication is borne of light and motion. Wave an arm, raise a leg or turn your head and reveal ancient cryptic symbols. Collaborate to successfully activate both portals at once, and sync communication in an immersive visual experience. With each successful interaction, you are one step closer to unlocking the ancient secrets of these mysterious portals.
The Light Teleportal is conceived by Sydney artist Fergal Hanley – who exhibited the holographic installation Harbour Watchman at Vivid Light 2017 – and created with collaborators Colin Hendry (sound and light) and Kevin Staunton-Lambert (video). The team is backed by Switch Media, a Sydney software developer that specialises in online video streaming. The Light Teleportal uses a custom-developed software platform called Magic Portal to orchestrate the installation’s light, sound and video effects.
One of the portals in the Royal Botanical Gardens at dusk
Colin Hendry, Fergal Hanley - at our studio at Lilydale during construction of the project
The portal pillars before finishing and assembly
Testing the pillar base lights
Strip-light, control board and power supply setup
Company promotional poster
Myself, Kev and Colin after assembling one of the portals at the studio
Testing the portal with our custom built software
Testing the lights
More testing, now with the two portals assembled
Waiting for the delivery truck on the morning of delivery
Coordinating getting the installation into the Botanical Gardens (myself foreground)
Getting the first pillar into position with help from some colleagues
The promo bollard next to the installation
Assembling the installations on site into the wee hours
Some last minute hacking with no time to admire the fireworks