Feature: "Enlighten" illuminates Australia's national capital

Landmark buildings in Australia's national capital are being illuminated after dark as the Englighten 2016 kicked start on Friday night for the sixth consecutive year.

Despite being known across Australia for the after hours quietness and arguably lack-lust night life, the Australian Capital Territory government has been trying hard to bring more color to the city by introducing a variety of festivals, including the Englighten.

During the two weeks event, six of the country's most iconic institutions set to light up with stunning architectural projections.

Australian Parliament House, National Portrait Gallery, National Library of Australia, the Museum of Australian Democracy, National Gallery of Australia and Questacon will be illuminated after dark as Enlighten 2016 promises to excite, surprise and thrill locals and visitors.

Peter Milne, Director of the Electric Canvas, the company responsible for projecting on to the institutions, said that the projections feature the work of an impressive range of artists.

"The projections this year are inspired by the architecture of the buildings as well as a range of Enlighten themes, allowing artists to work creatively and innovatively. From spiders to chandeliers to Chinese symbols and a number of rabbit orientated pieces, each building's projection is unique," Milne said.

Having hopped into festivals around the world, a group of seven-meter high giant inflatable rabbits, illuminated by stark white light, have arrived in the nation's capital and are quite comfortable to take up residence in the Parliamentary Triangle.

The rabbits of Intrude have made themselves at home in cities across Australia, Europe and the United States, evoking childhood fairy tale images of rabbits frolicking through idyllic fields wherever they go.

Internationally renowned artist Amanda Parer hopes that visitors are amazed and surprised, but also pause and consider Intrude's wider message.

"The rabbit is an animal of contradiction," Parer said. "In Australia, they are considered pests that evade eradication attempts and interfere with the country's native species. Yet bunnies are also cute, innocent and playful."

"Intrude is literally a huge opportunity to consider the natural world, its fragility and our role within it."

Enlighten will transform the Parliamentary Triangle into a hive of activity with live entertainment, a range of free and ticketed events and the much-anticipated Enlighten Night Noodle Markets returning in 2016 with more space, more food and more stall holders.

As the event expands across the city this year, there will also be activations at the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra Glassworks, National Archives of Australia, Australian Botanic Gardens and the Royal Australian Mint.

There are other events such as music performance, film, tours, late night openings, blockbuster exhibitions and premier shows to be held during Enlighten 2016. Enditem