Hearts aflutter at Vivid

University of NSW is hoping to set hearts aflutter with its I LOVE YOU lighting installation at this year’s Vivid Festival.

Designed by students and positioned centrestage at Circular Quay, the installation is a giant illuminated love heart that rewards couples with a light display according to how loudly they yell “I love you” into a microphone.

BA Design Honours student Edison Chen came up with the concept and collaborated with fellow UNSW Art & Design Honours student Nila Rezaei and UNSW Engineering graduates Nathan Adler and Sam Cassisis, and Media Arts/ Computer Science Engineering students Tom Bremner and Jordan East to bring his idea to reality.

“I wanted the installation to be carnivalesque — like a kitsch love-O-metre,” said Chen. “We’re aiming for a sideshow alley meets Las Vegas wedding chapel aesthetic.”

Encouraging couples to take part in an extreme display of public affection is part of the installation’s appeal — the louder, more intense declarations of love display a brighter and more colourful pattern on the 3 x 3 m heart.

“If their declaration is totally off the charts they’re rewarded with a special animation,” said Selena Griffith, Senior Lecturer and UNSW Engineering Scientia Experience Manager, who is coordinating the project.

“One of the main ideas we want to get across is that love is open and accessible to all,” she said.

The installation has already been nominated for an Australian Lighting Industry award and is fast becoming the centrepiece of this year’s festival.

The giant love heart provided the backdrop for Vivid’s opening ceremony and has received accolades from the festival’s artistic director, Ignatius Jones, who told the Australian Financial Review, “I LOVE YOU is going to go off. It’s such a clever idea — and a simple one. Every year we get countless requests for proposals and these guys have nailed it.”

Image credit: © Leilah Schubert