Red desert lit up for world first festival of light and culture

In the red centre of Australia, a festival of light is illuminating the night sky for the first time.

The 10-day festival called Parrtjima: A Festival In Light is a celebration of colour and culture, showcasing work from eight local Indigenous artists, stretching across 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) of the McDonnell Ranges in outback Australia.

SEE ALSO: Indigenous Australians the oldest living civilisation on Earth, study affirms

The festival has been billed as the first of its kind, exhibiting the oldest culture on earth through the newest technology, on a outdoor canvas. 

Image: James Horan for AGB Events

The installation and artworks draw on the beauty of modern life interwoven with traditional songlines.

Image: James horan/agb events

As captivating as the images from the festival's opening night are, the festival hasn't escaped without controversy. 

Animal conservation groups expressed concern at the festival, saying that the laser beams used in the show could be harmful to local wildlife. Zoologist and local wildlife expert Mark Carter raised the issue stating that area was home to the federally protected black-footed rock wallaby. 

Image: JAMES HORAN/AGB EVENTS

Carter's concern was that the light show would cause distress for the pregnant wallabies causing them to abort or eject their joeys out of fear.

The Northern Territory Major Events general manager Andrew Hopper told AAP that all necessary precautions had been taken to prevent harm to local animals. 

Image: james horan/agb events

Concern has also been raised by Senior Indigenous custodian of Alice Springs, Doris Stuart. Stuart reported growing concern that the local Arrernte stories sacred to the Alice Springs region had been ignored. 

"That's the most important thing when you're messing around with sacred sites that are everything to the people who belong to the country," Stuart said.

Image: james horan/agb Events

Hopper told ABC that the festival organisers consulted "widely with a number of Indigenous groups and traditional owners of the land, and had chosen a variety of dreamtime stories to illustrate in light." 

Image: james horan/agb events