Winter festival RISING has teamed up with ACMI to launch a multi-sensory exhibition in Melbourne. In The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, you’ll explore the influence of vinyl culture and music on art, fashion, film and social movements. Originally produced in London, this exhibition showcases The Vinyl Factory Collection and takes a deep dive into different eras of music. Expect a deep listening room, interactive moments, large-scale installations and more. The exhibition will open on Friday, May 22, and run until Monday, August 31.
The Vinyl Factory: Reverb at ACMI
This critically-acclaimed exhibition comes to Melbourne after a twice-extended season in London, which welcomed over 50,000 visitors. Founded in London, The Vinyl Factory is an independent music and arts enterprise, which features a vinyl pressing plant, a record label and an exhibition program that explores the influence of music and sound on contemporary culture.
“Reverb showcases The Vinyl Factory Collection of incredible installations commissioned and produced by The Vinyl Factory over the last 20 years,” said founder Mark Wadhwa. “Produced by 180 Studios, the exhibition brings together music and art through ten unique, experiential artworks.”
At this exhibition in ACMI, you’ll navigate through large-scale moving image works, immersive sound installations and interactive vinyl experiences. Highlights include hands-on access to Technics turntables with remixable vinyl loops, a fantasy rap battle, and access to The Vinyl Factory’s archive, with 100 vinyl pressings across multiple genres.
“Through the work of contemporary artists, this exhibition celebrates the music subcultures that have defined generations, from the Black roots of techno to contemporary street dance, inviting audiences to consider why these movements mattered and still do today,” said ACMI Director & CEO Seb Chan. “You’ll hear records in a new way – discovering the unexpected, or something familiar transformed. Reverb at ACMI is a fitting tribute to sound in the world’s vinyl capital.”
In this exhibition, you’ll see works from leading figures in video, sound and contemporary culture, including Canadian media artist Stan Douglas, British-Nigerian filmmaker Jenn Nkiru, American fashion icon Virgil Abloh, US filmmaker Kahlil Joseph, South African artist William Kentridge, Argentinian performance artist Cecilia Bengolea and German electronic music innovator Carsten Nicolai.
The Listening Room
Step into The Listening Room, a sanctuary that’s designed for deep listening. During the day, choose a record, close your eyes and settle in for a marvellous audio experience. After hours, The Listening Room will host one-off sessions from RISING artists. Curated by Triple R underground music specialist Yasmine Sharaf, these sessions will be strictly limited to 50 people per event. The line-up will be announced with the full RISING program in March.
Key info:
📅May 22 to August 31
🎫Sign up to RISING and get access to the presale, which opens on Tuesday, February 17. The general sale starts on Monday, March 16.
📍ACMI, Fed Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000