Ben Ely: SHOWTIME!

Overview

Over the past couple of decades, Brisbanites have become accustomed to seeing Ben Ely in the city's live music venues — either as part of Regurgitator, or with one of his many other projects. An artist of the visual as well as musical kind, he's also becoming a fixture of Brissie gallery spaces. In fact, just months after bringing his Everything Must Go exhibition to Brisbane Powerhouse, he's back again.

Where his last creative showcase focused on the business of selling courtesy of promotional material for a few fictitious items, Ely is focusing on something that's been part and parcel of his on-stage efforts this time around. You can't be a rock star without walking up to the mic, picking up an instrument and putting on one hell of a performance — yep, as the exhibition's title exclaims, it's SHOWTIME!

All types of performance, spanning punk rock, circus, burlesque, dance, theatre and comedy, and including everything from behind-the-scenes preparations to post-show antics, fall into this colourful, character-filled display. Gracing the Powerhouse's walls from November 7 to December 3 as part of the venue's Wonderland festival, it's also a chance for fans to snap up a piece for their walls at home, with Ely's artwork also for sale.