Brisbane Powerhouse plays host to a colourful range of artistry this month as the home of brand new LGBTIQ arts festival, ‘MELT’, and opening night did not disappoint.
Enter the silver arches via the big, pink melting ice-cream that is the festival's fabulous mascot, and the main foyer of Brisbane Powerhouse was buzzing with excitement. To the right was a stage and dance floor that featured Youthfire, an electronic music producer accompanied by UQ’s brass band. To the left — a crowd of excited thespians that made their way to the Main Theatre for Matthew Mitcham’s cabaret performance.
The foyer of the Powerhouse featured brilliant projections on the walls, disco balls and an indoor balcony that overlooked ‘HYDRA’ by Joel Devereux, an exhibition showcasing the male form in photographs.The Mosquito Foyer was home to the main art exhibition of ‘MELT’. ‘Black By Popular Demand’ by Hillary Green, asked the question “where does the performance end and the real person start?” showcasing a range of hyper-real images of different personae played by one person. ‘Middle Sex’ by Jennifer Leonforte explored the confines of male and female genders, and communicated the limit of self-expression within the gender binary. Last but not least, ‘Boys of Summer’ by Dan Webb featured nostalgic paintings revisiting teenage lifesaving years, with brilliant gold and bronze tones against the blue and white waters of Bondi beach.
After taking in the various pieces of art scattered around the venue, it was time to enjoy the atmosphere of the opening night party which rocked until 11pm to a backdrop of dance music and throwback hits. Waiters and waitresses weaved through the buzzing crowd with free refills of delicious wine for ticket holders, and photographers from local publications snapped up all the action.
Getting a photo at the Queensland HIV Foundation’s photo booth was a popular option, with the scantily clad male models getting in on the action for a good cause. After Matt Mitcham’s show, fans had the opportunity to grab a copy of the soundtrack as well as his autobiography and a t-shirt, and line up to meet him and get their merchandise signed. Wandering around the venue meant seeing lots of friendly, happy faces mingling and celebrating the LGBTIQ community with each other.
‘MELT’ features a huge range of films, cabaret shows, and theatre and music performances over the two weeks at Brisbane Powerhouse.
