Carla O'Brien Brings NEON NIGHT GARDEN to QV Melbourne

From 17 May to 16 June, an outdoor garden gallery of interactive neon art installations will transform QV Melbourne and its laneways, vibrant by day and glowing bright at night.

QV Melbourne have partnered with Melbourne-based international artist Carla O'Brien (White Night, Burning Man, Earthcore) to deliver an alluring new exhibition called Neon Night Garden, featuring nine colourful artworks in Carla's most extensive exhibit yet.

Carla's signature Neon Angel Wings will be re-imagined as the colourful wings of a giant butterfly, coming together with eight other touchable works to create an effervescent garden of colour, light and photogenic delights. The unofficial entrance to the garden is a 2.4-metre high Neon Night Garden Archway. Consisting of a series of whimsical neon lines that look as if they were playfully hand drawn, the archway acts as a gateway into the imagination. Viewers are invited to stand inside the archway for an immersive 3D multi-colour experience.

"Inside the Neon Night Garden are all things you might find in a garden - a flying kite, a tree, umbrellas on a rainy day, people, wings of a butterfly and even a flamingo," says Carla.

Carla O'Brien received global recognition when pop megastar Katy Perry posted an Instagram photo of herself 'wearing' Carla's Neon Angel Wings at Burning Man 2016. The snap went viral and was picked up by news outlets around the world. The QV Melbourne precinct is making plans to accommodate high levels of foot traffic when the exhibit launches on 17 May.

"It's amazing to see how fascinated people are by neon art. Maybe because neon is traditionally used for signage, it's not something we're used to touching. I make art for people to interact with - that's what brings it to life. To me, my pieces only become real art once people get involved with them," says Carla.

"I can't wait to see people interact with all these new works. I'm particularly excited to see how people relate to The Neon Tree. I'm betting people will sit under it, even though it doesn't have any shade. The Neon Brollies are real clear plastic umbrellas so when it rains people can actually stand under them. The Mirror Me, Mirror You people are made up of tiny mosaic mirrors so you can see yourself reflected - it won't be easy to take the perfect selfie but I'm sure people will try!"

Melbourne art lovers are invited to experience the Neon Night Garden at QV Melbourne from 10am on 17 May. The installation will be housed in QV Square, with a special additional installation in Albert Coates Lane on 17 May, to mark the launch of the Neon Night Garden.

The Neon Night Garden is a free public outdoor exhibit running for one month in QV Square until 17 June.

Worlds apart from other retail precincts in Melbourne, QV represents the quintessential Melbourne lifestyle. Intimate laneways in the urban precinct give visitors the freedom to wander and discover the eclectic mix of shops, cafes and restaurants at their own pace. Located on the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston Streets, QV has something for everyone with boutiques, enlightening entertainment and cosmopolitan bars and restaurants.

What: Neon Night Garden, an interactive outdoor exhibit. FREE.
Where: QV Square, Level 2, QV Melbourne, corner Swanston and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne 3000
When: 17 May to 16 June, 2017
#QVNeonNightGarden, www.qv.com.au

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