Frankston’s South Side Festival 2023 will dazzle audiences with stunning visual arts and striking installations.
Prominent Australian artist, writer and film maker Shaun Tan’s Rules of Summer exhibition features original paintings made for the picture book of the same title.
Shaun is excited to participate in South Side Festival, adding: “I grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth, in a place which bears some resemblance geographically and culturally to the landscape of Frankston.
“Many of my stories refer to suburban, coastal communities, where the most fascinating things happen not in faraway lands, but in everyday suburban backyards and kitchens.
“As a child, I was artistically inspired by exhibitions and festivals that came to my area, given our family did not travel widely or have much of an artistic and literary background.
“I imagine an exhibition such as Rules of Summer could make all the difference for similar young people, and might offer a key experience for anyone with an interest in painting, writing or illustration, its process and possibility.
“I would like them to know that such work is accessible, achievable and can continue to be just as fun as a profession as it is in childhood,” Shaun said.
Jenny Zhe Chang’s Light with Hope – Unity is a site-specific installation of 77 symbolic lanterns reflecting the 77 cultural and ethnic groups living together in Frankston City.
All of the lanterns are linked together emphasising that we are all individuals that coexist within a community. This large scale artwork reflects that we can share light and hope in any situation.
Jenny said: “Exhibiting as a part of the South Side Festival is very exciting. It allows me to showcase my work alongside other inspiring individuals and groups in a diverse and outstanding community.
“The festival provides a platform to celebrate and share talents, contributions and achievements from various fields, making it an exciting and honourable experience for me,” she said.
Eleesa Howard’s Edge of Colour exhibition celebrates Frankston’s energy, brightness and colour. Eleesa uses paint, paper, and photography to express her view of the world in an abstract manner and to celebrate the beauty of the Frankston community within the urban environment and natural landscape.
The 2023 South Side Festival will delight, challenge and entertain with thought provoking performances, raucous comedy, dazzling installations and visual arts and fun for the whole family.
Playing on our love for the immersive and visually spectacular, South Side’s LuminoCity features three immersive experiences that will take you on a journey from an interactive sea, to a dazzling installation and finally, an underground digital playground.
There will also dance parties in shipping containers, augmented reality art galleries, torchlight street art tours and even an all-age’s metal and hard core gig.
South Side will be held from 5 – 14 May. Tickets are now sale.
For more information, please visit www.southsidefestival.com.au South Side Festival is supported by Frankston City Council and sponsored EastLink.