'Honey Myrtle' costume from Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
Object No. 2001/84/96
The Nature segment of the Opening Ceremony, directed by Peter Wilson, presented a theatrical representation of Australia's native flora and fauna. The Sydney 2000 Post-games Report describes the segment: Fresh green shoots appeared, plants began to bloom, leaves grew along the branches of the eucalypt trees, as desert and bush and rivers came alive to the strident laugh of the kookaburra and the screeching of parrots. Dominant among the budding, swelling, ultimately blooming flowerbuds were red waratahs, red and black Sturt's Desert peas, pink waterlilies and yellow banksias. Following them came pink and purple honey-myrtles, blue wildflowers and swamp daisies. As the lakes and waterholes of the inland filled, flocks of birds arrived to breed, and then Australia's unique animals came to visit, among them the kangaroo, platypus, echidna and goanna. Through creative choreography and puppetry, and sequence after sequence of fresh new images, and a continuing fusion of colour, the stadium took on the look of a beautiful living garden. Through this great flowering landscape walked the Songman Djakapurra, stopping at a giant waratah to collect the Hero Girl, who was still dreaming. (Sydney 2000 Post- Games Report, http://www.gamesinfo.com.au/postgames/en/ pg002508.htm).
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Summary
Object Statement
Performance costume, titled 'Honey Myrtle', fabric/fibreglass/foam, designed by Eamon D'Arcy, made by the Ceremonies Costume Workshop and La Patrice, used in Opening Ceremony of Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000
Physical Description
Performance costume, titled "Honey Myrtle", fabric/fibreglass/foam, designed by Eamon D'Arcy, made by the Ceremonies Costume Workshop and La Patrice, used in Opening Ceremony of Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000
PRODUCTION
Notes
Eamon D'Arcy originally trained in theatre design at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. He later continued his studies at the English National Opera Theatre Design School (London) and recently completed his Master of Philosophy degree in the Department of Art History and Theory, University of Sydney. In addition to his designs for the Opening Ceremony, D'Arcy was also Production Designer for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, Opening and Closing Ceremonies including all Medal Ceremonies. He was Production Designer for the Handover Ceremony at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA and Production Designer for the Handover Ceremony, Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002, the Melbourne 2006 Games Committee Other work includes Designer of the NSW Float for the recent 2001 Federation Day Parade in Sydney and Festival Designer for the Queensland Biennial, Festival of Music, 2001. Theatre design work includes; ?Associate Designer for the musicals Singing in the Rain 2001 and Cabaret 2002. ?Production designer for the musical Hot Shoe Shuffle and The Man from Snowy River Arena Spectacular in 2002 ?Set and Costume Designer for Black Chicks Talking 2002 - 2003. ?Set Designer for the musical Hair touring Australia 2003 and Burn the Floor touring USA in 2002 - 2003 D'Arcy's designs for the Nature segment featured animated flower costumes in which the performers body became part of the flower. In addition to the complex sculptural forms featuring a variety of colours and textures, the costumes are During the performance the Honey Myrtles manipulated their skirts causing the tendrils of the skirt to appear to open and close. The head-dress is fitted with light globes powered from a battery pack around the waist of the performer, during the 'light up' sequence the performers activated a switch causing the costume to illuminate. The costume design is based on the Scarlet Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca fulgens).
HISTORY
Notes
Worn by one of 20 male and female performers who during the performance manipulated their skirts causing the tendrils of the skirt to appear to open and close and activated a switch illuminating the head-dress during the 'light up' sequence of the segment. Presented to the Powerhouse Museum by the Olympic Coordination Authority, on behalf of the NSW Government
SOURCE
Credit Line
Part of the Sydney 2000 Games Collection. Gift of the New South Wales Government, 2001
Acquisition Date
5 October 2001
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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