Like being inside your mother's womb: Melbourne's new choose-your-own-adventure artwork
One such endeavour is a giant pink inflatable installation which will occupy part of the interior of the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton until Sunday.
For any past and present University of Melbourne students visiting – more accustomed to the venue as an exam hall – surely, a massive colourful balloon is a more welcoming sight. A lot less stressful than a biology test, we're sure.
The Barcelona-based artist, Sergi Arbusa, was delighted to be bringing the MATRIA exhibit to hallowed halls of the building.
'Our practice is making inflatables in relation to architecture,' he said. 'The space ends up becoming the art object – we present an experience that people can make their own.'
The artist cited Christo and Jeanne-Claude as his main sources of inspiration. While we're not sure that Carlton Gardens compares with the Champs-Élysées, we're happy to be in the conversation.
Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, speaking at the launch on Wednesday, was especially excited about the event. 'I've seen a lot of art in my time,' he explained of the inflatable. 'And I have never seen anything like this.'
Reece said that the event was the perfect way to bring the city alive in winter. 'It may be frosty in the mornings. But our hearts and souls are burning bright,' he said. The man loves an adage – what can we say?
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The Age
5 hours ago
- The Age
Like being inside your mother's womb: Melbourne's new choose-your-own-adventure artwork
Melbourne's Now or Never festival kicks off on Thursday for its third year. Described (somewhat ambiguously) as a 'festival of new dimensions', it's set to bring a range of art displays and performances to the city. One such endeavour is a giant pink inflatable installation which will occupy part of the interior of the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton until Sunday. For any past and present University of Melbourne students visiting – more accustomed to the venue as an exam hall – surely, a massive colourful balloon is a more welcoming sight. A lot less stressful than a biology test, we're sure. The Barcelona-based artist, Sergi Arbusa, was delighted to be bringing the MATRIA exhibit to hallowed halls of the building. 'Our practice is making inflatables in relation to architecture,' he said. 'The space ends up becoming the art object – we present an experience that people can make their own.' The artist cited Christo and Jeanne-Claude as his main sources of inspiration. While we're not sure that Carlton Gardens compares with the Champs-Élysées, we're happy to be in the conversation. Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, speaking at the launch on Wednesday, was especially excited about the event. 'I've seen a lot of art in my time,' he explained of the inflatable. 'And I have never seen anything like this.' Reece said that the event was the perfect way to bring the city alive in winter. 'It may be frosty in the mornings. But our hearts and souls are burning bright,' he said. The man loves an adage – what can we say?
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The Advertiser
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When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced. Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness. The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures. But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22. "There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said. "People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general. "So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending. "This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief." Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music. Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing. "We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said. "It's really positive for festivals across the board. "Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit." Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back. "Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said. The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons. The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more. Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event. "It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said. "As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent. "Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist." The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival. First release tickets are on sale. When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced. Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness. The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures. But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22. "There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said. "People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general. "So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending. "This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief." Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music. Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing. "We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said. "It's really positive for festivals across the board. "Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit." Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back. "Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said. The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons. The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more. Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event. "It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said. "As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent. "Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist." The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival. First release tickets are on sale. When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced. Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness. The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures. But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22. "There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said. "People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general. "So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending. "This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief." Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music. Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing. "We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said. "It's really positive for festivals across the board. "Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit." Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back. "Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said. The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons. The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more. Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event. "It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said. "As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent. "Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist." The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival. First release tickets are on sale.
