Built organically (and somewhat haphazardly) over decades, Sydney’s spaghetti-like streets have long been home to a mosaic of experiences ready to greet you. Turn a corner and you’ll find a heritage listed pub next to a high-end hotel, then take a sharp left and you’ll find yourself in a hole-in-the-wall gallery above an underground cocktail den. And while that meandering adventure can be a joy, if you’re travelling solo through the city, there are some poorly-lit streets that you might want to put on your ‘walk the long way around’ list.
With that in mind, a new CBD art installation is not only illuminating the vibrant streets of Sydney, but providing a safer experience for women, girls and gender-diverse people accessing the city.
The latest offering from the YCK Laneways precinct is Lightstream, a light art installation brought to you by artists Fausto Brusamolino and James Peter Brown. Situated on York Lane, the warm light installation was green-lit as a commission from the NSW Government’s Community Improvement District (CID) pilot in direct response to safety concerns from the public.
Lightstream has been an entirely collaborative project with women from the community offering suggestions on how to make the area a more safe space at night. Designed in partnership with the artists, the installation now provides warm lighting which reduces glare and shadows.
“By incorporating warm lighting, we are not only enhancing the aesthetics of the laneway but also actively improving perceptions of safety,” said YCK Laneways Vice President and Treasurer Karl Schlothauer in a statement.
“Research shows that warm-toned lighting fosters a greater sense of security for women, which is critical for encouraging people to come out at night.”
The once dark and dingy laneway has now been illuminated with neon streams. The transformation from an avoided backstreet to a safe, stunningly-lit space feels like the perfect marriage between public safety innovation and cutting edge art.
You can take a gander at Lightstream next time you’re in the CBD, or head along to one of the YCK Laneways walking tours to learn more about this project.
Here’s to more innovation, more art and more out-of-the-box development when it comes to making our city a safer place for all.
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