Bright idea: Lily and Noah Church, aged 8 and 10, are excited for Illuminate this weekend in Shepparton, which will light up SAM with an art show. Photo: Megan Fisher
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Among the festivities of lights, food and entertainment comprising Shepparton’s Illuminate festival, a transportation device will stand.
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But it won’t take you to the future. Instead, attendees will be taken to a neon underwater world created by local artists Mimi Leung and Tammy-Lee Atkinson.
Reusing materials salvaged from the Cosgrove Resource Centre, the artists have created an immersive walk-through installation titled What’s that in the water?.
“It’s about the rivers around us, focusing on local waterways,” Ms Leung said.
“The idea was to get people to think about the things we put in our water system and how it effects the quality of water and water-life, whether intentional or by accident.”
Cardboard, wires, netting, old paint tins and everything glow-painted form a series of creatures surrounded by Ms Atkinson’s mesmerising 18m rainbow serpent.
Runs in the family: Mimi Leung and her daughters made snails and slugs during the school holidays for What's that in the water?.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“I did most of this work during the school holidays with my daughters Yo Yo and Luna,” Ms Leung said.
They weren’t the only ones getting their hands dirty.
A network of young local artists was also involved, including Heather Atkinson, George-Marbi Nicholson and Frances Nicholson.
Off the wall: Mimi Leung will extend her bright colour palette from canvas to installation at Illuminate festival.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Ms Leung said their collaborative efforts paid off, as she described the walkway of art as bringing immediate joy and impact.
“When you put UV light on it, it changes the whole feel of the space and you become immersed — there’s a beautiful quality to it,” she said.
“I hope it invites the viewers to look closer at what things are made of, rather than how you’d look at a perfect, beautiful piece of art.
“Maybe even after a day or in a week’s time, people will have a think about what really is in the water.”
What’s that in the water? will be on display during the Illuminate festival at Victoria Park Lake, Shepparton.
The festival is on Friday 6pm to 10pm and Saturday 5pm to 10pm.
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