The sensory wonderland that is Night Feast has returned for its spring edition, taking over Brisbane Powerhouse and its surrounds until October 29.
If you didn’t make it to the winter edition of Night Feast, now is your opportunity to experience flavoursome fare from some of Brisbane’s most celebrated chefs, along with an inspiring arts program and a loaded line-up of live music – all in the one place.
For the foodies the main course will be the spread of sumptuous snacks on offer, but Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and artistic director Kate Gould says Night Feast is more than just a food festival – it’s a feast for all your senses.
“It’s a celebration of creativity in all its forms, and this spring we’ve curated a line-up that promises to captivate and inspire – a true visual and culinary spectacular,” says Gould.
Among the sense-enlivening line-up of visual art is a giant display of illuminated deep-sea creatures by Australian artists Tin and Ed, a roaming installation full of costumed chaos and abstract interactions, and a new immersive work from award-winning inter-disciplinary artist Bridie Hooper.
Hooper’s newest work, For Whom the Bell Tolls, made its premiere at Night Feasts’ opening last week, wowing audiences with a blend of mind-bending circus, participatory art and a tolling bell.
“It’s part installation, part interactive performance,” says Hooper. “It draws on the bell’s sonic wonder, the virtuosity of circus and the intimate experience of participatory engagement to inspire a reconsideration of our unity and connection through hope.”
The bewitching work, which has been in the making since 2021, features a custom-built bell that acts as the centrepiece to the interactive performance. Designed by Victorian artist Anton Hasell, For Whom the Bell Tolls marks the first time that this type of bell is heard in public.
“A lot of research went into the design of the incredible customised bell,” says Hooper. “It’s made in Australia, which is very rare now as there are very few bell foundries.”
When it comes to the participatory factor of the performance, Hooper says the audience can decide the level of involvement they are most comfortable with.
“One of the things I find really exciting about this work is that you can participate in it directly,” says Hooper. “Audience members are invited one by one to share their hope with the artist, the artist then takes that hope and ascends the 10-metre rope to toll the bell in a sonic offering which releases hope that resonates across the landscape.
“Then there’s also the other kind of way of engaging, which is really just watching,” adds Hooper. “So if you don’t feel comfortable participating directly you’re encouraged to just watch the piece and sort of come and go. You can watch some of it, head off and buy a drink or something to eat, and come back to see where it’s at.”
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Taking place at the Brisbane Powerhouse forecourt, Hooper believes this public and interactive art installation lends itself to the Night Feast setting.
“There was such an amazing appetite from the Brisbane community to see and engage in art at the last Night Feast,” she says. “The live foot traffic and atmosphere that is going to exist around the work means that it will be able to grab people’s attention as they are walking by.”
Hooper says the free format of Night Feast encourages audiences to be exposed to and support independent and experimental art practice.
“The fact that it’s not ticketed means you’re encouraged to come and go, and return,” says Hooper. “I think it’s super essential in the accessibility of the art and making sure that people can come along, be awed, thrilled, weirded out or whatever it might be.”
Catch For Whom the Bell Tolls from 6pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday throughout October at Night Feast
brisbanepowerhouse.org | www.nightfeast.com.au
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