This was published 8 years ago
Uluru Field of Light art installation by Bruce Munro to light up the Red Centre
By Ute Junker
Bruce Munro's "Field of Light" will light up around Uluru from April 1.
SPONSORED ARTICLE
An astonishing art installation will shed new light on the Red Centre.
There is magic in the air at Uluru. It's there in the power that resonates from the mighty rock. It's there in the way the light ignites the landscape at dusk and dawn, flaming into fiery reds and burnt oranges. It's there in the clear desert nights, when a carpet of stars unfurls across the sky.
It is no surprise that this landscape is what inspired internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro to create his Field of Light.
From April 1, mirroring the stars the Field of Light will shed a different light on this special destination. As darkness falls, 50,000 glass spheres will gently light up, springing to life like desert flowers after a downpour.
It's not the first time that Field of Light has made an appearance: it has already been exhibited at venues around the world, from the Eden Project in Cornwall to Arizona's Desert Botanical Garden. Its unveiling at Uluru marks a special milestone: the debut of the installation in the very landscape that inspired it.
"We had been living in Australia and decided to trek around the country before returning to the UK," Munro says, recalling his 1992 trip to Uluru. "I was completely and utterly blown away by it. I was so inspired by the landscape, it was like a caffeine hit."
More than a decade after the idea was born, Munro finally created the first installation in a field outside his house.
The project launched a new career for Munro, who has since built an international reputation for his light installations. Bringing Field of Light to Uluru, he says, is way of "saying thank you to Australia for the inspiration", he says.
Field of Light Uluru, which will be on display for 12 months, is the biggest installation yet. It will feature 50,000 solar globes. Walking through the artwork offers another way to examine the area's striking landscape, joining other experiences such as hiking through Kata Tjuta or riding a camel across the plains.
Visitors wanting to experience Field of Light can choose from several different packages, ranging from a serene sunrise experience to a family-friendly early evening experience. You can arrive by camel or by helicopter, or soak up the sight as you savour a three-course bush tucker-inspired meal.
There's just one thing you shouldn't do at Field of Light, and that is to search too hard for a meaning. Munro says that what matters is not the intention, but how people respond to it.
"I've noticed over the years that people smile when they go through it. I can't think of a more complimentary way for people to look at your art."
Getting there
Virgin Australia and Jetstar fly direct to Uluru from Sydney and Melbourne, while Qantas flies direct from Cairns, as well as offering flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide via Alice Springs. A complimentary coach service runs from Uluru Airport to Ayers Rock Resort.
Staying there
Located on the edge of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Ayers Rock Resort offers accommodation to suit all budgets. Top of the range is the five-star Sails in the Desert, with its Indigenous design influences and its Red Ochre spa. More affordable options include the Desert Gardens Hotel and the self-catering Emu Walk Apartments. Other choices include the Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge and the Ayers Rock Campground, which has both powered and unpowered sites and cabins.
Eating there
Mealtimes are never dull at Ayers Rock Resort, where you can choose a dinner to suit your mood: perhaps a quick pizza, a barramundi on the barbie or a three-course extravaganza at Ilkari Restaurant that starts with sashimi and finishes with a trip to the chocolate fountain. Treat yourself to a milkshake at the Kulata Academy, where young Indigenous trainees learn hospitality skills. A desert dinner is a sure way to create lasting memories. The Sounds of Silence starts with canapes on a sand dune, before moving on to a bush tucker buffet that includes crocodile, kangaroo and barramundi. Alternatively, dial up the romance with the Tali Wiru table d'hote, open to just 20 guests at a time. The evening kicks off with French champagne by the campfire, before you sit down to a three-course menu featuring dishes such as wattle seed-rubbed kangaroo carpaccio with sour cherry jelly.
Indigenous activities
For many people, one of the highlights of visiting Uluru is the opportunity to learn from the traditional custodians of Uluru, the Anangu people. A visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre makes an excellent introduction to local culture and beliefs, but there are also numerous activities on offer at Ayers Rock Resort, including bush tucker tours, dance demonstrations, and guided garden walks. You can also pick up a painting at Maruku Arts, or create your own at a dot painting workshop.
This article was brought to you Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.
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