One Million Stars public art installation in King George Square
Inspired by artist Maryann Talia Pau, and united in their hope for a peaceful future, thousands of people from across the world have woven the one million stars set to feature in this stunning public artwork created by artists Lumen Cloud and the Museum of Brisbane for Festival 2018.
The artwork is a fully immersive experience, inviting visitors inside a four-metre high, 15-metre wide dome created from 370 brightly coloured star garlands, forming a kaleidoscopic effect accompanied by a soundscape created by artist Michelle Xen.
Open all day and night during the festival, visitors can walk in and out, stay a while and reflect on the light filtering through the iridescent star strings, run your hands along the stars and think about the many hearts and hands that have been part of its creation.
The One Million Stars installation will be lit at night, creating a true beacon of peace for the Commonwealth Games and Brisbane.
Maryann created the first ‘stars’ following a tragedy in her local community, determined to counter violence with peace, darkness with light. Since 2012, thousands of people have come together to weave stars and meet the target of creating one million stars to realise this artwork as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Stars were received from 15 countries including Nigeria, USA, Canada, Kenya, Fiji, Barbados, Tonga, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Samoa, Scotland, England, Cook Islands and Australia.
Presented as part of Festival 2018, a celebration of arts and culture taking place in Brisbane, across the Gold Coast, Cairns and Townsville during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Supported by the Queensland Government and designed and developed by Museum of Brisbane in collaboration with Lumen Cloud.
About the project
Maryann recognised the value of community connectedness and that it should be nurtured every day, not just in times of tragedy.
Through the One Million Stars to End Violence project, Maryann has sought to encourage people across the world to come together through the peaceful practice of star weaving, creating positive connections one star at a time.
In 2016, Maryann collaborated with the Queensland Government to engage individuals, groups and communities across the Commonwealth and the world to weave one million stars for an installation during GC2018 as part of Festival 2018.
The installation will support the Commonwealth Games Federation’s vision of a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous global community and the Queensland Government’s commitment to preventing domestic and family violence.
Each star demonstrates our individual commitment to practise kindness and the one million star installation will be a peaceful and powerful statement that demonstrates our ability to create positive change together.
Visit www.onemillionstars.net and Embracing 2018 for more information.
