Auckland’s Aotea Centre is once again playing host to a world of light, sound, and wonder as the acclaimed immersive art experience, DARKLIGHT, returns for its third sold-out season. Titled The Hidden World, the new exhibition is running for a limited time over the April school holidays, from 9–18 April, transforming the Hunua Rooms into a multi-sensory journey for all ages.
The experience invites visitors to move through a series of interconnected spaces, each filled with interactive installations that use light, projections, sculpture, and custom soundscapes. The format is similar to globally renowned ‘Instagram-friendly’ digital art experiences like teamLab Planets in Tokyo and New York’s Mercer Labs, which have captivated audiences with their blend of technology and artistry. This modern approach to art encourages participation, making the observer part of the exhibition itself.
DARKLIGHT is the creation of independent lighting designer Angus Muir and event producer Dan Move. The pair conceived the project out of a desire to bring a new kind of event to New Zealand, drawing on their extensive international experience. Muir is well-known for his mesmerising work at major New Zealand events, including Bright Nights at Auckland’s Viaduct, the Matariki Festival, and Queenstown’s LUMA light festival.
Muir says he wanted to create an indoor spectacle that would not be at the mercy of Auckland’s unpredictable weather. The result is a carefully curated journey designed to evoke emotion and spark curiosity through minimalism, mood, and innovative spatial design.
A journey through The Hidden World
The Hidden World is designed as a living, vibrant environment that unfolds across five distinct spaces. The experience begins in a transitional area meant to separate visitors from the outside world before they step into the main installations. The journey then moves through ‘Earth in Bloom’, a responsive light garden where virtual plants and fungi react to human presence, and ‘Beneath the Surface’, an aquatic realm where light flows like water around glowing forms that emerge from the depths.
Visitors then ascend to the ‘Sky Garden’, which explores the invisible forces of the atmosphere using refracted light, before reaching ‘The Core’, where light pulses and scatters with living energy. The experience culminates in ‘The Cosmos’, a collective, immersive moment where light and sound converge to connect the elemental themes of earth, water, air, and fire. Organisers say the exhibition has a dual nature; by day, it’s a space of colourful, interactive fun for families, while at night, the atmosphere transforms into a deeper, more reflective world of sensory wonder.
The return of DARKLIGHT comes as immersive art continues to grow in popularity in Auckland and across the globe. Last year, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki hosted <em>Light from Tate: 1700s to Now</em>, a major exhibition that showcased nearly 100 artworks from the prestigious UK institution. It featured works from historical painters like JMW Turner to modern installation artists like Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell, demonstrating a long and rich history of artists being captivated by light. These large-scale events have helped foster a local appetite for sensory-driven art, which DARKLIGHT taps into directly. Indeed, New Zealanders' deep reliance on cars is reflected in the country's urban planning and cultural landscape.
Interactive art takes over Aotea Square
Co-presented by Auckland Live, the DARKLIGHT experience is complemented by a second interactive installation in the public space of Aotea Square. Airship Orchestra is a free public art piece by the award-winning Melbourne art and technology studio ENESS. It features a cast of 16 huge, colourful inflatable characters that visitors can walk amongst.
The friendly giants, some up to six metres tall, loom gently over the square, illuminating, humming, and blinking as they play a mystical soundscape that responds to passers-by. The whimsical installation provides a playful and accessible art experience for the public and will remain in Aotea Square until 3 May 2026, extending the artistic buzz in the CBD beyond DARKLIGHT’s limited run.
The area is set to be a hub of activity, with the Aotea Centre being a key part of Auckland’s civic and cultural life, a vision supported by the recently signed Auckland City Deal aimed at boosting the city centre.
A decade of illuminating experiences
The creators of DARKLIGHT bring over a decade of experience producing light festivals in New Zealand and around the world. This latest project is a culmination of their learnings and a passion for pushing the boundaries of audience engagement. For those with children looking for activities over the break, it is an ideal outing that aligns with the school holiday period.
Both Dan and I have been involved in many light festivals and events in New Zealand and the world for over 10 years and this is the culmination of all those experiences and learnings. It’s not just about seeing light and hearing sound; it’s about feeling them, being surrounded by them, and becoming part of the artwork.
Organisers are also keeping a close eye on the weather, with Cyclone Vaianu being monitored. While the indoor event is expected to proceed, ticket holders for Sunday 12 April who are uncomfortable attending have been offered the option to reschedule through Ticketmaster. Tickets for the session-based experience range from $10 to $50 and are available now through the Auckland Live website, with visitors encouraged to wander and explore the hidden world at their own pace.
