QV Melbourne's Light / Play Is Live With A Full Program Of Events

Following Friday's launch with a new public pop up artwork from Danish artist Tine Bech, QV Melbourne's Light / Play is in full swing with a playful program of activities and events including silent disco walking tours, a Red Spice QV pop up bar, quirky workshops on the art of play and more.

Light / Play is the first installation in the new QV Laneway Series: a seasonal program of ongoing interactive outdoor events, festivals and activations in the QV Square and surrounding laneways. The celebration of light and play heralds the end of winter, with events and installations until Sunday 10 September 2017.

Guru Dudu, one of Melbourne's most playful place making facilitators, will lead silent disco walking tours throughout the QV laneways. The dance-walks come complete Bluetooth headphones, spontaneous flash mobs and fun commentary from the Guru Dudu team that promises to open up your 'laughter meridians'. A series of twenty minute tours will be held from 5pm-8pm on both 1 September for Vogue American Express Fashion's Night Out and 10 September for Light / Play's closing night.

The highlight of Vogue American Express Fashion's Night Out at QV Melbourne will be Light Drawing Workshops with Danish artist Tine Bech in the QV Square at various times on 1 September. Fashion shoppers and light drawers can refuel with FREE Schnitz chips from 5pm-8pm.

Red Spice QV will launch a pop up bar opposite Tine Bech's installation in the QV Square, with happy hour specials including Hot Spiced Wine from 5pm-7pm Wednesday-Saturday until 9 September. Other specials include $5 bottled beer and house wine, plus specially priced Espresso and Lychee Martinis.

On Wednesday and Thursday 6-7 September, the QV Square feature a space for Laneway Learnings with creative thinking and improvisation workshops, a hands-on study on The Art of Play, and sword fighting playshops with The School of Historical Fencing. Bookings required, visit Melbourne.lanewaylearning.com to reserve your spot.

No Vacancy, the QV gallery famous for Melbourne's first street art exhibitions, will host a pop up art exhibit in the QV Square on Friday 8 September. Opening early at 8am, the pop up will also include No Vacancy's espresso bar, offering an artful start to the day for city workers.

Visitors to QV will also be able to experience the latest food trend on selected dates during Light / Play. That's right, it's edible cookie dough with a Cookie Dough Dream pop up shop in the QV Square. Specially formulated without egg - so it's safe to eat raw - the dough can be eaten as is, or baked into tasty treats.

More information about all events in the Light / Play program is available via qv.com.au.

QV Melbourne commissioned globally acclaimed Danish artist Tine Bech to complete her first Australian work, which is the centrepiece of Light / Play. Featuring five colourful runways leading to a vivid landscape of images, her work is entitled Colour Me Beautiful. The interactive installation captures images of audience members on each runway; live posting them onto a 5.8 metre by 3.2 metre multicolour screen. In the first 36 hours of the installation, a staggering 15,000 images were captured of Melburnians playing and performing.

"I couldn't be happier with how Melbourne has embraced this new work. We have hosted everyone from early morning workers to late night revellers to families and teenagers. Some people even set up their own game with the installation," says Tine.

With a PhD in 'Play', Tine Bech is a multidisciplinary artist who creates innovative interactive art that encourages participation and most of all, play. Her work has been exhibited in public spaces, galleries and at major festivals, transforming urban landmarks in cities around the world.

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.

For more information visit qv.com.au.

Photo credit: Phoebe Dunn

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