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 is now open and will 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 eleven 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 between Cairo and London, a sculptural sound system in the form of a pink boombox and a six-hour jam film set in a reconstruction of ‘The Church’, the New York studio where Miles Davis, Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan recorded. You’ll also see a display of 100 pressings from The Vinyl Factory’s archive, featuring Massive Attack, Thom York, Fred Again, Daft Punk, Rina Sawayama and more.
“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.”
The Listening Room
Step into The Listening Room, an acoustic 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, talks and listening parties with local and international artists. Triple R’s Yasmine Sharaf has curated the first drop of artists, with names like Lovie, Rotational, Nicole Skeltys and Saul Williams on the line-up. These sessions are limited to just 50 people per event.
Key info:
📅Now until August 31
🎫$25 for adults
📍ACMI, Fed Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Learn more about the exhibition here.