Golden Square

Overview

When arts and culture festival Rising debuts this month, it'll see Chinatown come alive with an eclectic program of giant projections, colourful parades and other immersive artistic delights. And at the precinct's core is the elaborate Golden Square pop-up, transforming Lonsdale Street's multi-level carpark into a multi-faceted homage to creativity and big ideas.

For the festival's duration (May 26–June 6) the building's normally stark concrete storeys will be reimagined as a dynamic art gallery space, showcasing new commissioned works by legendary Aussie artists including Reko Rennie, Lucy Bleach, Patty Chang and Parallel Park. Expect everything from performance art to sculptural pieces, speaking to the theme of 'inland tides' — including Rennie's large-scale, three-channel video work, which shows him cruising inner-city streets in a painted Holden Monaro, backed by an operatic score by Deborah Cheetham AO.

Work by Patty Chang

On the rooftop, you'll feast your eyes on towering projections, giant murals splashed across the ground and ice sculptures crafted from frozen lake water — also from some of Australia's most celebrated contemporary artists. And while the creative juices are flowing, the drinks will be too, with top-notch libations on offer from Fancy Free's esteemed pop-up bar.

Golden Square is designed to be enjoyed starting from the rooftop and spiralling your way down. It'll be open nightly from 6pm–12am.

Top image: work by Lucy Bleach