A giant garden of colour is set to bloom in the Hunter, with immersive artwork BLOOM transforming Charlestown Square this spring.
Created by acclaimed 3D artist Melissa Mathieson, aka MelissaLovesSushi, the large-scale installation will turn the shopping centre into an oversized garden packed with whimsical characters, vibrant foliage and larger-than-life details.
The colourful work is now on display as part of a new partnership between Charlestown Square and City of Newcastle’s New Annual festival.
Designed to surprise and delight, BLOOM invites visitors of all ages to step inside the artwork, explore its curious details and snap plenty of photos along the way.
The installation is all about rediscovering a sense of childlike wonder, bringing a large-scale arts experience to the Hunter without the need to head to a major city.
For local art lovers, it’s also a chance to see a work that has previously been exhibited just once, in Melbourne.
Its arrival at Charlestown Square will give the Hunter community the opportunity to get up close to Mathieson’s colourful creation while experiencing art in an unexpected everyday setting.
The installation will also arrive just ahead of New Annual, City of Newcastle’s flagship arts festival, which runs from 25 September to 4 October.
This year’s festival features more than 40 events, 400-plus artists and seven new commissions across the city, with BLOOM adding another splash of creativity to the wider program.
BLOOM will be on display at Charlestown Square from Thursday, 11 September to Sunday, 11 October. The immersive artwork is free and designed for visitors of all ages, making it an easy school holiday outing for families and a colourful stop for anyone keen to see something a little different in the Hunter.
