Special guests were invited to preview Echoes of Bullanginya ahead of the public on Friday, June 19.
Photo by
Abby Green
Magical, mesmerising and transformative, Echoes of Bullanginya brings a new dimension to Barooga’s internationally acclaimed Bullanginya Dreaming light show.
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Five holographic installations were unveiled last week, adding a new layer of storytelling to the existing 1.8km trail.
As visitors followed the illuminated path, ancestral stories emerged from the landscape through holographic imagery, bringing the totems of the Bangerang people to life.
Special guests were invited to preview the new installations along the trail on Friday, June 19, ahead of its public opening the following evening.
Guests were welcomed at the entrance with a smoking ceremony led by Uncle Dozer, and at the end of the trail he played the didgeridoo as his children performed traditional Bangerang dances.
LaserVision chief executive officer Shannon Brooks said the new concept took about six to eight months to develop in close collaboration with Uncle Dozer and the Bangerang people.
“What we've done is try to harness the essence of the original show and focus on some new elements, bringing in the stories of the totems and their close connection to the Bangerang people,” he said.
“The celebration of the totems is such an important part of their culture and we’re deeply honoured to be able to represent that in a way that is truly unique and adds to the show.”
Mr Brooks said the team had introduced five new installations using holographic imagery to bring the stories of the totems to life.
Uncle Dozer led a smoking ceremony at the opening of Echoes of Bullanginya.
Photo by
Abby Green
“Each one of the five totems has an individual story deeply rooted in the culture and history of the Bangerang people,” he said.
“We've spread each one of those installations throughout the whole activation and they have their own narrative that blends with the existing narrative.”
Mr Brooks said the positioning of the lighting in the holographic displays helped viewers lose sight of the screen itself, making the animals appear as though they were floating in mid-air.
“It's all about creating that kind of magic and people losing themselves in the experience,” he said.
Attendees enjoyed several cultural dances at the opening.
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Supplied
“It’s such an amazing environment in itself and when you add these little elements to it, it really has the ability to transform people into a new space and place.
“We're very lucky to be able to collaborate with the Bangarang people to tell their stories, bring their culture to life and share it with everyone.
“It's really special.”
Mr Brooks said that as a culture spanning around 65,000 years, the stories were not written down but passed from generation to generation, and installations like this provided an important way to share and educate others about them.
Creative director Juan Zubiaga said returning visitors often discovered new details each time they attended, with changing conditions such as rain creating different visual experiences.
Bullaginya Dreaming's new holographic installation, showing the stories of the totems.
Photo by
Abby Green
“I always try to connect with emotions. For me, it’s really important that people remember how we made them feel,” he said.
“People who have visited six or seven times tell us they see something new every time.