Hiromi Hotel: YU KA

Overview

With hundreds of events on its hefty annual lineup, Brisbane Festival is never short on highlights — but if it's dazzling colour that you're after, keep an eye out for Japanese Australian artist Hiromi Tango's regular contributions to the program. In 2018, she teamed up with Craig Walsh on A Force. In 2020, she brought both Rainbow Circles (Healing Circles) and Brainbow Magic the River City's way. In 2023, it's now time for Hiromi Hotel: YU KA 夢花 — and to get floral.

Taking its cues from a poem by fourth-century BCE Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zi, and from the use of the peony in Buddhist imagery as well, Tango's new installation features giant flowers towering over South Bank in a rainbow of hues. You'll find the peonies at Bris Fest's festival garden, adding brightness to 186 Little Stanley Street — to see for free from Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 23, as open from 5–11pm Tuesday–Thursday, 4pm–12am Fridays, 12pm–12am Saturdays and 12–11pm on Sundays.

That's just one part of the Hiromi Hotel experience, however. At Brisbane Quarter over in the CBD and at Brisbane Airport, pop-up installations are also part of the fun. The BQ event runs for an extra week, until Saturday, September 30, taking over the venue's podium 1.

A number of Brisbane Quarter's bars and eateries are also getting in on the action via themed dishes. Fancy a Citrus Smile or Drink of Flower cocktail? Chinese doughnuts stuffed with prawns? Hiromi Hotel's vibrant palette and blooms, but edible and drinkable? Then head to W Brisbane's Living Room Bar, Brisbane Phoenix, Phat Boy, Tenya, Persone and more.

Drink images: Claudia Baxter.