Melbourne is sparkly enough in the springtime, but this November, it’s stepping up its game. From November 10-23, Prahran Square is set to light up with a free, multi-sensory art and performance experience. Over two colourful weeks, Ephemeral Collection and the Bubble Emporium will transform the heart of the Chapel Street precinct into a kaleidoscopic playground of imagination.
Ephemeral Collection (by internationally acclaimed art studio Atelier Sisu) will take over the square with a series of colossal bubble-like sculptures that shimmer, refract and illuminate throughout the day and night. Standing at 7.5 metres high, the monumental installation is made from dichroic film – the same material used in high-end optics – which means it constantly changes colour depending on the angle of the light. By day, it glistens and glows like liquid glass; by night, it comes alive with soft illumination and ambient sound, creating an immersive, dreamlike atmosphere. True to its name, Ephemeral Collection is all about celebrating the fleeting beauty of the moment – reminding Melburnians to slow down, look up and take in the profundity of impermanence.
If that’s not enough whimsy for you, the Bubble Emporium will blow (pun fully intended) into town from November 12-16, bringing five nights of live performance, music and – you guessed it – bubbles. Created by Homunculus Theatre, this Victorian premiere will see The Golden Oldies take the stage each evening at 6pm for a heartwarming and delightfully silly show that celebrates the joy of play at any age. Expect plenty of laughter, a touch of theatre and up to 20,000 bubbles per minute filling the air above Prahran Square.
Then, as the clock hits 8pm, things take a turn for the truly unexpected. The Boys in Blue will ramp up the energy with a full-blown outdoor dance party under the stars – the perfect excuse to kick off your shoes and boogie among the bubbles.
Between the enormous glimmering sculptures, the playful performances and the sound of thousands of bubbles popping in the spring air, Prahran Square will be buzzing (or perhaps bubbling) with community spirit. It’s a free celebration designed to bring people together – families, friends and bubble enthusiasts alike.
“Both Ephemeral Collection and the Bubble Emporium invite audiences to reconnect with curiosity and wonder,” say the organisers. “It’s about seeing the world anew – through light, colour, and shared experience.”
You can catch the Ephemeral Collection daily (illuminating nightly until 11pm) from November 10–23 and the Bubble Emporium performances from November 12–16 at 6pm (The Golden Oldies) and 8pm (The Boys in Blue). Entry is free, no booking required.
You can learn more over here.
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