Every year, SPARK Ipswich brings the city to life with a dynamic, community-driven celebration of culture, creativity and connection – and 2025 is set to dazzle once again.
One of its shining features is deLIGHT, a public art activation that transforms the city’s Nicholas Street Precinct into a glowing outdoor gallery, after dark.
Check out the SPARK Ipswich programme.
deLIGHT is a nightly showcase, where a stellar line-up of visual artists team up with projection artist James Muller to reimagine their work on a massive scale. From digital designs to hand-drawn animations, each evening unveils a different artist’s vision. This year’s programme features talents like Chloe Adams, Rushanthi Herath, Andrew Kimberley and more – including Korean Australian artist YEAHYEAHCHLOE.
We caught up with YEAHYEAHCHLOE to chat about early-2000s nostalgia, digital art, and what it means to see your work light up the streets of Ipswich.
Firstly, tell us a little bit about you as an artist.
Hello! I am a Korean Australian artist based in Meanjin/Brisbane who likes simple carbs and early bed times. I work between digital and painting mainly, but I do like to dabble in sculpture and installation. My work is based around finding my place in the world – how I find connection, mainly focusing on objects and food and how these connect us to time, place and people.
How did you get into this creative medium – why do you love what you do?
I studied art at uni but I was a terribly lazy student, I don’t even know what I majored in. I really didn’t find what I loved doing till much later – it wasn’t until years after I had finished my degree and was teaching that I started playing around with digital art and it all clicked from there.
You draw inspiration a little bit from the ‘90s in your works. What about this time period inspires you?
I am a big sucker for nostalgia. Everything from the '90s to early 2000s, takes me back to my childhood – 'The Simpsons', 'Pokémon' on PC, Razor scooters, 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3' – these things have become such key memories and in a strange way they feel like they have become these significant relics of my life, my existence.
Your list of collaborators is pretty impressive. How do these sorts of opportunities come about, and what’s your favourite thing about working on them?
Thank you! I feel very lucky to have worked with some of the people and brands that I have. Most have all been online – through Instagram DMs. One of my favourite things is that these jobs mean I can earn an income which makes my practice sustainable – but, working on different projects outside my regular practice definitely pushes me creatively, keeps me more fluid which I think is important. Plus – I get to meet and work with some really great people.
You’ll be part of SPARK Ipswich this year. Tell us what it’s like when you’re selected to take part in a festival like this.
Yes! I am so excited to be included as a part of the festival, it’s a very lovely feeling to know my work is going to be shared in a public space. Ipswich is really making a name for itself in supporting the arts – they have a great reputation for showing up for artists and supporting the arts in the community so I am very excited to contribute to this in some way.
Why is SPARK Ipswich such a great place for you to showcase your creativity?
It’s a great opportunity to be able to explore my work in this medium – it’s exciting to see how the bounds of my work can be pushed and played with when working with projection. As for being a part of the festival, SPARK is all about celebrating the arts and community – it’s the perfect place to celebrate creativity.
You’re part of deLIGHT. What is this event, and what can audiences expect to see from your contribution?
deLIGHT transforms the Tulmur Walk building façade into a public art exhibition. You can expect to see animated versions of my work – along with the other amazing artists selected, projected onto the building from 5:30pm-8:30pm each night.
When did you find out you would be part of it, and where did you begin when it came to putting something together?
I think it was earlier this year some time, council put out the EOI call. Once I was selected, they teamed me up with James Muller from Earth Base Productions to get my work projection ready and bring my pieces to life for the exhibition.
What are you most looking forward to about being involved with SPARK in 2025?
I am a big believer in the importance of representing diverse stories and I am very proud to contribute to that within the Ipswich community.
deLIGHT takes place on 11-20 July on Nicholas Street as part of SPARK Ipswich.
