Brisbane's 'Fire Gardens' Installation Will Not Be Going Ahead This Week
Organisers have delayed the event by a week due to the bushfires that continue to burn in Queensland.
It's barely spring and Queensland's weather is hardly at its warmest, but bushfire season is already off to a horror start. Catastrophic blazes have been carving a destructive path through both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, ramping up in recent days — which means that it's, understandably, an inopportune time to unleash a fiery installation in the middle of Brisbane.
Between Wednesday, September 11 and Saturday, September 14, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens were set to host the world-renowned Fire Gardens as part of this year's Brisbane Festival. But in light of current events — and taking into consideration the total fire ban presently in place across southeast Queensland, as well as advice from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services — organisers have decided to reschedule the installation. It'll now run next week, between Wednesday, September 18 and Saturday, September 21.
One of highest-profile inclusions on Brisbane Festival's 2019 lineup, Fire Gardens has already popped up everywhere from Stonehenge to The Kremlin to Melbourne. It's the work of French art collective Compagnie Carabosse, who has been starting fires professionally for more than 20 years — so it knows how to do so safely. This isn't just about watching things burn, obviously, with a mysterious soundtrack boosting the mood and allure. Expect live musicians performing French music, adding to the radiant ambience.
Although Fire Gardens has popped up around the world, this iteration will be crafted specifically for the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. That means that you really won't see anything like it anywhere else. And, of course, you haven't seen the gardens set on fire before — on purpose, and in a controlled and safe manner — anyway.
More than 40,000 people are expected to make their way through the huge work, which usually sells out wherever it pops up. If you've already nabbed a ticket for the old Brisbane dates, you'll be emailed about the changes. For those still keen to purchase, you can also donate to disaster relief charity GIVIT when you buy online — and Brisbane Festival will also be collecting public donations for the same cause at its Arcadia hub at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt.
The rescheduled Fire Gardens comes to Brisbane as part of this year's Brisbane Festival, running from Wednesday, September 18 to Saturday, September 21. Tickets were not on sale at time of writing, but will become available once organisers have made the necessary arrangements — keep an eye on the event website for details.
For updates on the Queensland bushfires, head to the Rural Fire Service website and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Twitter.
Images: Sylvie Monier, Regina Marcenkiene and Vincent Muteau.
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