And here we are at the end on Lightscape 2025 in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, back at the Herbarium. This piece was accompanied by Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”, the Toy Story themem. Twaganin Kirrip translates to farewell or goodbye friend, a fitting end to the welcome.
The 75m (245ft) colour-changing light tunnel, Trapezoid by ArtAV, at Lightscape in the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. We are now on the uphill climb back to the Herbarium.
The light arch towards the end of Lightscape in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Seeds of Hope by Jeanine Leane at Lightscape in Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens.
“We each have seeds of hope
And seeds of fear inside us
We choose the ones
We will nurture
And grow”
“Seasons of despair
Provide fertile ground
To plant seeds of resistance
And grow
Future solutions”
“It is the nature
Of seeds to know
When to be still
And when to break open
And rise into action”
“Nothing grows without a seed
Nothing changes without growth
Seeds are
Custodians
Of change”
Light pillars cast light and shadows across the lawn just after Water Stories as part of Lightscape in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Water Stories at Lightscape in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. Water Stories was the projection of First People artist work on to a giant spray of water droplets over the Ornamental Lake. This piece is Diving Ducks by Jonesy (Barkindji/Mialli) an acrylic on canvas work from 2024.
Water Stories at Lightscape in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. Water Stories was the projection of First People artist work on to a giant spray of water droplets over the Ornamental Lake. This piece is Platypus Dreaming #2 by Dools (Gunaikurnai) an acrylic on canvas work from 2023.
Lines of Country by artist Lewis Wandin Bursill on the Separation tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens for Lightscape 2025. The people of Melbourne gathered under this tree on 15th November 1850 to celebrate Victoria’s separation from the colony of New South Wales.
Lines of Country by artist Lewis Wandin Bursill on the Lionshead tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens for Lightscape 2025. The tree is one of giant river red gums in the Gardens that were growing here well before white settlement.
A Lightscape is isn’t just about some fancy artwork by a design team, the landscape of the Royal Botanic Gardens get to shine through.
The clusters of giant reeds by TILT line the path of the Royal Botanic Gardens for Melbourne’s Lightscape.
A sample of the Neon Bird Boxes by Culture Creative at Lightscape in the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens.