Water Up Late — CANCELLED

Climb through rings, walk over a riverbed, sing karaoke and listen to live tunes.
Sarah Ward
December 09, 2019

Overview

UPDATE: MARCH 16, 2020 — The Gallery of Modern Art has announced that Water Up Late will no longer go ahead "in line with Australian and Queensland Government public health recommendations around COVID-19 and mass gatherings". Ticket holders will receive a full refund.

To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.

cp-line

For two nights in March, your evening plans can include walking up and down an indoor riverbed, climbing across suspended rings, smiling at a snowman, drinking, dancing and even belting out a tune. That's all on the agenda at Water Up Late, because the Gallery of Modern Art is doing what it usually does whenever it hosts a major exhibition — that is, throwing a couple of huge after-hours parties.

Until the end of April, Water is flowing across GOMA's floors and walls. We don't mean that literally, but every piece currently on display in the impressive showcase has something to do with that vital liquid. You can see the results everyday over the next five months, or you can head along from 6pm on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, wander the gallery, watch tidal currents rise and fall (in a video, not in reality), hear live music inside and out, grab a bite and enjoy a few beverages.

Both nights will feature circus performances, interactive science displays and a bathroom-themed karaoke pop-up that'll get you crooning songs about water. There'll various bars around the place, too. On Friday evening, you'll also be able to listen to tunes by Gordon Koang, Miiesh, Montaigne and Topology, as well as DJ sets by Sweaty Baby and Boom Boom Bean Selecta. If Saturday better suits your diary, prepare for Adrian Eagle, LÂLKA, Mildlife and Robert Forster, plus Paolo and Hannah D on the decks.

Portrait of Montaigne. Image courtesy: Montaigne

Because Water has a serious side — given the state of the environment, how could it not? — Water Up Late will also feature a Science+Chill Lounge. It'll all be very playful, while delving into the facts behind the topic. On the bill: science experiments, chats by science broadcasters, and laughs from comedians Joel Gilmore and Lee Constable.

Top image: William Forsythe. America, b.1949. The Fact of Matter. 2009. Site-specific installation comprising gym rings, fabric straps, gym mat and truss system / Dimensions variable. Pictured: Installation view, William Forsythe: The Fact of Matter, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2019. Courtesy: The artist. Photograph: Chloë Callistemon. © William Forsythe.

Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x