From eclectic street art and pop-up gallery windows to secret neon lighting installations and storytelling literally embedded in the ground, there is more than meets the eye in this colourful neighborhood.
Take an urban scavenger hunt through King St.
Car Park Pixel | Brisbane Showgrounds
Inspired by the continual flow of people through the Brisbane Showgrounds over the precincts 140-year history, QUT Industrial Design student Tom Emmett’s award-winning artwork was transformed into a pixel installation on the façade of King Street Parking. As Brisbane’s largest public art installation in the precinct, the installation spans the five-storey building, took over 100 volunteers to install and is made from 58,000 pixels.
Machinery Street Gallery | Machinery Street
Machinery Street Gallery, an initiative of Lendlease and Gilimbaa, is the visual axis for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork within the King Street precinct. It acts as a canvas to articulate the connection to the history, spirit and legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Strawberry Sundae Neon Art | Welcome to Bowen Hills
Located on the side of the historic Dairy Hall (now the Welcome To Bowen Hills building) is this sweet neon light! The light installation celebrates the iconic EKKA strawberry sundae and was a piece designed and created by QUT Creative Industries students to pay tribute to the popular EKKA icon.
Tree Projections | Fig Street
The corner of Gregory Terrace and King Street is home to one of the precinct’s historic fig trees, which has been transformed into a natural beacon through the subtle projection of story onto the tree’s outer foliage. Adorned with simple words or patterns that appear from dusk, the tree projection is an installation in the precinct that celebrates the natural landscape and cultural heritage storytelling.
Hidden History | Tree Grates
Hidden in the tree grates that line King St, history is written right under your feet. Slow down as you walk, discover the artistic grates and learn the story and timelines of King St.
Historical Fig Tree | Rydges Hotel
The only fig tree that was required to be removed in the Brisbane Showgrounds regeneration was acknowledged in permanent art form on the balcony of Rydges Hotel, ensuring the history of the site is preserved for generations to come.
Gobos | King St Pavement
Gobos are a stencil placed inside a light to project pattern and artwork onto urban landscape. Lining the King St pavement, explore interactive sustainable history and indigenous artwork.
Kookaburra | King Street Parking
Designed by interdisciplinary artist Reko Rennie, the flashing neon Kookaburra light on the corner of King St Parking is a vibrant symbol to provoke discussion surrounding Indigenous culture and identity in contemporary urban environments. During EKKA our energetic friend actually laughs too!
With colourful artwork around every corner, what will you stumble upon next visit?
