Arts / Making light of the Magna Carta

IN a torrid Canberra month dominated by talk of leadership spills and political consultation, there could hardly be a more enlightening document than the Magna Carta.

That’s the view of staff at the Department of Parliamentary Services as they prepare for a whopping 800th birthday celebration of the famous manuscript as part of Canberra’s Enlighten Festival, running in and around the Parliamentary Triangle from February 27 to March 7.

And why not? We have here, in our own Parliament House, one of the only two copies outside the UK of the 1297 “Inspeximus” version of the Magna Carta – the other is in Washington.

Naturally, the DPC plans to shout this to the skies, with huge projections on to the exterior of the House, and “Inspeximus”, a fun family tour full of clues and puzzles related to the text. There’s a mini film festival where you can see our own Errol Flynn and Russell Crowe (also Kevin Costner) disporting themselves as Robin Hood who was, APH assures us, not just the arch-foe of King John but a freedom fighter and champion of the principles of Magna Carta. Gosh.

If you’re wondering about the arithmetic, June 2015 will mark the 800th anniversary of King John’s famous signing at Runnymede. A close-up look at the English translation next to the actual Magna Carta allows every Australian to see the principles of assent by which a ruler should govern. Australian politicians take note.

But APS staff are not stopping there in their search for enlightenment. Geologist Wolf Mayer will lead tours through Parliament House examining the varieties of stone in the building.

The director of the art collection, Justine Van Mourik, will host “white glove” tours where you can get inside the arts store and also hear all the behind-the-scenes goss from Van Mourik, who thinks she is the first director to lead such a tour.

“CityNews” could pretty well “feel the power” as she explained to us how political portraits are commissioned, how new parliamentarians get top-class Australian paintings for their offices (there is a pecking order) and how gifts from foreign leaders are sometimes less than artistically satisfying.

Hedonists are not excluded from the fun. On Saturday, March 7, the Members’ Guests Dining Room will be thrown open for an “exclusive decadent dinner” concocted by Chef Cris Purcell.

While you’re up at the House, the rest of Canberra will be down on the ground in the Parliamentary Triangle feasting on noodles at the Enlighten Night Markets, oohing and aahing at the wild projections on to Canberra’s most famous buildings, and enjoying free and ticketed entertainment curated by Events ACT’s Adelina La Vita.

Overseas visitors include Voala Station, from Spain, who will sweep four businessmen (or possibly public servants) into a world of magic; Voyage from the UK, who will launch 300 illuminated paper boats on to Lake Burley Griffin and indie jazz and soul band Lake Street Dive from the US.

Meanwhile, local scientists will perform an erudite study of the physics of beer at Questacon, a natural follow-up to last year’s ice cream experiments.

Who can doubt that Enlighten will transform Canberra into the “cool” capital Chief Minister Andrew Barr keeps wishing for?

Enlighten 2015, February 27-March 7, Parliamentary Triangle, program and tickets at enlightencanberra.com.au, tickets from ticketek.com or 132849. Some tickets at the door.

 

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