Australian Marriage Equality Catalyst for Stunning Light Installation at London Design Show

A father from Perth has used the same-sex marriage vote in the Australian parliament last December as inspiration to produce a stunning light installation at a design show in London.

Flynn Talbot was invited by the London Design Biennale’s artistic director, Christopher Turner, to create Australia’s submission to the festival which had a theme of “Emotional States”.

As Talbot sat down with his wife and kids back home in Perth and watched the emotional scenes in federal parliament when same-sex marriage was legislated, he knew that he needed to use that moment to create his piece.

 

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A post shared by Flynn Talbot (@flynntalbot) on Sep 11, 2018 at 3:47am PDT

Speaking with Fairfax Media’s Latika Bourke Talbot said he thought it was the most perfect symbol to work with.

“The pride flag being such a global symbol of love, I just knew instantly that I wanted to create a rainbow coloured light space, and work with the emotion of love because it has a new, tangible feeling in Australia,” Talbot said to Fairfax Media.

He wanted his design to “envelope people” with feelings of positivity from the marriage equality decision.

“So effectively we have here this pride flag light show that’s wrapping all around you and it’s a safe space but you’re being gently forced to be closer to other people,” he said speaking with Fairfax Media.

“I wanted to try and bring people together for this intimate experience to try and create that same feeling of how people feel about what love means in Australia.

“I wanted to create an installation that was a space within a space – that was open but beckoning you to come inside. And I wanted to have a tactile element, so the fibre optics was quite a nice way to create a tactile light screen that you can pass through.”

The Biennale’s Artistic Director Christopher Turner said the work called “Full Spectrum” is a frontrunner in the “people’s choice” awards for the show that has entries from 40 different countries.

 

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Such a pleasure to meet the High Commissioner of Australia George Brandis QC (right of picture) at the @london_design_biennale and have a chance to present my installation. What’s amazing is that George and his team wrote the bill for same-sex marriage legalisation and were instrumental to getting it passed. Such amazing work for Australia! Also pictured (centre) is the Managing Director of the Biennale Sumi Ghose who was with me for this whole journey. This project would not have happened without the support of Sumi and his amazing team (Elisa! ????) thanks to everyone for your support. It means the world to me. #londondesignbiennale #australianpavilion ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ???? by @purelooney. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ HUGE thanks to my sponsors @dfat, #AustralianHighCommissionUK @minderoofoundation @aceagrams. Custom lighting & support @crescent_lighting. Further support @lightingoptionsaustralia @mondoluce_wa

A post shared by Flynn Talbot (@flynntalbot) on Sep 6, 2018 at 7:18am PDT

And ironically, the submission and display are being sponsored by the Australian High Commission in London, which is now led by George Brandis, the former Attorney General who’s final role in the Australian Parliament was to officiate over the marriage equality laws.

“His installation is a touching and heartfelt tribute to this important act of law reform and modernisation,” Mr Brandis said.

The London Design Biennale is showing at Somerset House, London until September 23.

Last Updated on Sep 12, 2018