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11.33pm on Aug 22, 2019
That's all for our White Night blog
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We're going to wrap up our White Night coverage for tonight. Thanks for following along on the blog.
This year's winter White Night installations seemed to have warmed the hearts of attendees. Crowds were a bit down on what you'd expect at White Night, but then it is winter and a weeknight, and if you couldn't make it to the city today then there's always tomorrow or Saturday.
Enjoying White Night in Melbourne's winter.Luis Ascui
Perhaps the posts from Hannah, Broede and Yan in tonight's blog have helped you decide on what to see at White Night tomorrow or on Saturday.
You can check out arts editor Hannah Francis's take on Melbourne's first-ever winter White Night here: [Check out the full article]
The Mad Max Fury Road performance drew big crowds.Luis Enrique Ascui
As for the results of our totally unscientific poll on the most popular White Night attraction: the Spiritual Realm at Carlton Gardens was the clear winner with almost one third of the vote (31 per cent).
It was followed by the Sensory Realm at Treasury Gardens with 22 per cent, the Physical Realm at Birrarung Marr with 18 per cent, the State Library with 17 per cent and the NGV/Arts Centre with 12 per cent.
But if you feel strongly that one of these sites has been robbed, you can always make your voice heard below:
10.26pm on Aug 22, 2019
White Night: the photo highlights
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Roving photographer Luis Ascui has been all over the city for White Night tonight and has been getting some great pics.
I've bundled the best ones into this photo gallery.
10.11pm on Aug 22, 2019
The verdict on the Physical Realm at Birrarung Marr
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Meanwhile, reporter Yan Zhuang has made the arduous trek to White Night's Physical Realm at Birrarung Marr.
Here are her picks of what's a must see, what's worth a look and what to skip. But, even then, she says the good thing about the Physical Realm is you don’t need to line up for everything so if you time your visit well you can basically see everything.
Must see at Birrarung Marr:
Globe is a dazzling riot of acrobatics, smoke and projections, and it is worth heading down there for this alone. It's definitely the best thing I’ve seen today.
Globe, at Birrarung Marr
Worth a look:
Odd Platoon, a lively procession where soldiers are strapped into giant arms and swung up and down over the crowd.
Odd Platoon, at Birrarung Marr for White Night 2019Yan Zhuang
The State Library installation. The concept - an elevator ride down into the depth of the library, and into the book making process - feels a little bland but the grandeur of the projections on the walls of the domed reading room makes the whole thing pretty magical.
The State Library projections are always a hit.Luis Ascui
Skip:
Heliosphere: an acrobat floating above the crowd suspended under a giant sphere may sound pretty cool, but if you’re seeing it in conjunction with Globe it can seem a little repetitive.
Heliosphere at Birrarung Marr
This White Night sign. It's exactly what it says on the tin.
It's just a sign.Yan Zhuang
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9.55pm on Aug 22, 2019
The verdict on the Spiritual Realm at Carlton Gardens
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Reporter Broede Carmody has been out at the Spiritual Realm at Carlton Gardens and has been immersed in the transcendent sights and sounds it has to offer.
Here are his picks on what to see, what's worth a look and what to skip.
Must see at Carlton Gardens:
The Mad Max performance outside the Melbourne Museum. It was by far the most popular and fun act of the night. The actors really captured the over-the-top nature of the film. Plus, the soundtrack and pyrotechnics were so different to traditional White Night acts.
The Mad Max Fury Road performance appears to be the runaway hit of White Night 2019 so far. Luis Ascui
Worth a look:
The Guardian.
Give it a miss:
The ‘Loved’ performance in the south-east corner of the Gardens. There are more energetic acrobatic performances at Birrarung Marr.
9.38pm on Aug 22, 2019
The verdict on the Sensory Realm at Treasury Gardens
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Arts editor Hannah Francis has been wandering through the Treasury Gardens, which are home to the Sensory Realm during White Night. It seems to have drawn the thinnest crowds of the three realms tonight, but that's not to say it doesn't have much to offer.
Here are Hannah Francis's picks of the best White Night displays at Treasury Gardens:
Must see
Cocoon
Cluster
Iris (there are no lines)
'Iris', an installation in Treasury Gardens for White Night 2019.Hannah Francis
Worth a look
Waterlight graffiti
Songcloud
Sensoria (there are no lines)
The Sensoria projection injects some warmth into a chilly White NightHannah Francis
One of the five pollution pods in Treasury Gardens for White Night.Jason South
9.26pm on Aug 22, 2019
The Heliosphere at Birrarung Marr
By Yan Zhuang
Festivalgoers stopped in their tracks and looked up in awe as Heliosphere took to the air.
Suspended under a giant ballon, an acrobat twirls and turns.
The novelty wears off after a few minutes, but who cares when you don’t need to queue for it.
The Heliosphere at Birrarung MarrYan Zhuang
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9.18pm on Aug 22, 2019
The Sylph of Spring
By Broede Carmody
Don’t take fashion cues tonight from the Royal Exhibition Building’s Sylph of Spring.
It’s rather cold outside. If you haven’t already left the house, make sure to pack a scarf and some gloves, if you can.
The Royal Exhibition Building’s Sylph of Spring on White Night 2019.Broede Carmody
It's a chilly 10 degrees in Melbourne at the moment, but it feels like eight degrees.
9.12pm on Aug 22, 2019
People heart White Night 2019
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Crowds are down a bit on last year (which is to be expected given White Night is being held over three nights this year, it's winter rather than summer and tonight is a weeknight), but from what I'm hearing people seem to be enjoying this year's exhibits.
Crowds at the first night of White Night 2019Luis Ascui
Globe, an off-the-wall performance at Birrarung Marr
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Reporter Yan Zhuang sent me these paragraphs a few minutes ago, and when I first saw them I assumed she had gone rogue and headed out to the Mad Max exhibit in the Carlton Gardens (she has been assigned Birrarung Marr)
"Horned performers sitting atop giant rotating contraceptions do battle with masked men holding sparklers and soldiers on stilts, barrelling into the audience at random.
"Observers laugh and shriek as they scramble out of the way. Then, someone is airlifted by crane onto a giant spherical structure as others dance suspended in midair.
"It’s all part of a completely off the wall 40 minute performance by Globe." (Ah, so it's a different exhibit, sorry for doubting you, Yan)
"Super worth watching."
Globe, at Birrarung Marr
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8.50pm on Aug 22, 2019
The Sensoria projection at the Department of Education
By Hannah Francis
Continuing the sensory theme at Treasury Gardens, the 'Sensoria' projection is packed full of wonderful facts - such as that warm colours make you feel warm, and that merely the thought of food can make your mouth water. (Yes, both those things happened as I watched.)
The Sensoria projection injects some warmth into a chilly White NightHannah Francis
I'm just not sure about the Department of Education as a projection facade, the first time it's been used in White Night. Viewing from the path below, the bottom of the imagery is obscured. But viewing from the top of the hill, you don't get the full perspective.