First Lights

Following the success of Fremantle Biennale’s First Lights: Moombaki (2021) and First Lights: Balarr Inyiny (2022), the spectacle of light and sound that illuminated the night sky took flight across regional Western Australia in 2023 to share ancient stories of place. 

The choreographed drone light show First Lights travelled across Western Australia, illuminating the skies over a number of regional locations including the South West, Great Southern, Gascoyne, Pilbara and Goldfields regions. 

Commissioned by the Fremantle Biennale, the large-scale contemporary artform involves choreographing a fleet of nearly 200 drones with powerful LED lights through specialist 3D animation techniques. Multiple shows were presented to share ancient knowledge, living stories and history of place. Specific to each location, the art direction was led by Traditional Owners and Aboriginal artists.

Detail was engaged by the Fremantle Biennale to support the First Lights Regional Tour through a public relations campaign.

The campaign objective was to generate awareness in the regional locations the show was touring, and raise the profile of the Fremantle Biennale, First Lights and its principal partners more broadly.

The campaign kicked off with an exclusive, double-page spread in The West Australian’s Travel section. A range of lifestyle and arts editorial coverage was also achieved, with highlights including Perth is OK, STM Magazine, Seesaw Magazine and ArtsHub Australia. There was also substantial regional coverage across the campaign.