Kari Kola light show set to make Albany glow in breathtaking celebration of city’s bicentenary

The hills of King George Sound in Albany will be lit up in shimmering lights as part of the Great Southern city’s bicentenary celebrations in March, the first of its kind in Australia.

Presented by FORM – the WA arts organisation behind the iconic Giants of Mandurah by Thomas Dambo – Lighting the Sound will cover “hills and landforms” across Torndirrup National Park and the Vancouver Peninsula over three weekends in March.

The brainchild of Finnish ‘light artist’ Kari Kola, over 750 LED lights will be distributed across 12km on the Peninsula, as well as 15 ‘Ayrton Mamba’ red pencil beams which will shine into the sky “like towers,” which FORM says is predicted to be the largest outdoor light installation of its kind ever staged.

Lighting the Sound was “co-designed and led” by Menang Elders, drawing on the “principles of reconciliation” between the long-standing Indigenous history and the settlers who established the Albany townsite in 1826.

“Rooted in the wisdom of the Menang (or Bloodroot) plant, from which the region’s First Nations people take their name, this community-owned initiative celebrates tens of thousands of years of unbroken connection, creating the opportunity for Menang people to tell their story,” a FORM statement said.

“This Australian-first project honours a history that extends far beyond 200 years.”

Artist Kari Kola has installed similar light shows across the world, including on the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Stonehenge in the UK, saying light is a “powerful tool” to draw focus onto landforms like the Peninsula and weave in the rich Aboriginal history of the area while also inspiring “reflection and wonder” from viewers.

“This project is deeply rooted in Albany’s unique story and cannot be replicated anywhere else,” Mr Kola said.

“The landscape, with its water and vast horizons, provides the perfect canvas for a panoramic experience that connext the land to the cosmos.

“My hope is that visitors will leave with a sense of peace and a lasting memory of being present when the lights were on.”

According to FORM, 50,000 visitors are expected to descend on the Great Southern to see the light show on the weekends of March 13-15, 20-22, and 27-29, and will last for approximately four hours each evening.

The best viewing will be from the ANZAC Peace Park, the Albany Town Centre, and spots along Princess Royal Harbour.

FORM CEO Tabitha McMullan says Lighting the Sound will attract “global attention” to WA’s south, which will be a boon for the already tourist-heavy area.

“This is an opportunity to showcase Albany’s breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage on the world stage,” Ms McMullan said.

“Beyond the immediate spectacle, Lighting the Sound will leave a lasting legacy, fostering cultural tourism and inspiring future creative endeavours in Western Australia.”