Calling all Inner City art fans. For three inspiring weeks this autumn, Neon Playground – Sydney’s largest Asian-Australian cultural arts festival – will transform Haymarket into a luminous wonderland of neon light installations, comedy shows, art exhibitions, incredible live performances and excellent food.
After a hugely popular first year, Neon Playground is back for round two, kicking off this Saturday (Saturday, March 15) with the epic Chinatown Block Party (taking over Dixon Street in the centre of Haymarket). The opening-night event will be headlined by Korean-Australian rap group 1300, with a super-strong line-up (featuring Hong Kong-Australian rapper Tommy Gunn, Taiwanese-Australian pop artist tiffi, CRIMSON dance crew and more) soundtracking the streets from 5pm until 10pm.
Throughout the duration of the festival, a carefully curated program of Asian-Australian artists will perform at a range of free-to-attend and ticketed shows, and the streets will be buzzing with vibrant art exhibitions and light installations. Showcasing a rotating roster of established and emerging Asian-Australian artists including Chris Yee, Kentaro Yoshida, Pei Kwang, Andrew Yee, and Samuel Kim, a magnificent sculpture formed of 14 luminous towers will act as Neon Playground's visual centerpiece. The 4-5 metre towers of light will feature 80 lightbox illustrations; use 1km of neon; and integrate more than 100,000 individual LEDs. Produced in collaboration with world-renowned creative production company Mandylights (the people behind Sydney’s most immersive light displays, including Dark Spectrum and Lightscape), the festival’s light displays will illuminate the streets of Chinatown from Saturday, March 15 until Sunday, April 6.
Plus, from March 10-14, two illuminated towers (with more than 85 lanterns attached to each) will be spray painted on location by Korean-Australian muralist Sophi Odling and Western Sydney muralist and illustrator Christina Huynh, allowing visitors the chance to watch artwork come to life in real time.
Alongside the luminous towers, the festival’s program features a series of creative events ranging from panel discussions to a family-friendly karaoke session, with food and drink specials from Haymarket favourites including Good Luck Hot Pot, Banchō, Kura Kura Japanese and Sweet Lu.
According to City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, the event will showcase “the very best of Chinatown with an immersive celebration of art, light, music and, most importantly, of community.”
You can check out the line-up and plan your visit over here, and follow along via the @NeonPlayground Instagram page.
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