Kingpin, the premium entertainment hub, has today officially opened Australia’s first-ever immersive cocktail exhibition at its luxurious Crown venue in the centre of Melbourne, Australia’s art and culture capital. 

From 3rd – 12th March, Kingpin will be transformed into an interactive gallery space inviting guests on a multi-sensory journey through six rooms by six celebrated artists, featuring six deconstructed cocktails.  

Kingpin has partnered with six talented local artists to offer an immersive sensory experience that’s sure to surprise and delight. Each artist has creatively interpreted one of our signature premium cocktails, resulting in a unique and captivating visual experience. From scented bubbles and captivating soundscapes to projection illusions and bold sculptures, guests are invited to take a journey through our carefully curated cocktail menu. Come explore this exciting exhibition and engage all your senses.

Commenting on the ‘Art of Mixology’, Belinda Falzon, Kingpin Chief Operating Officer says “With our exhibition now open, we’re excited to offer a unique and immersive art experience that deviates from the traditional 2D menu approach. Just like our regal cocktail menu, each artwork tells a unique story that deserves to be savoured and appreciated.”

“It’s an important time to continue supporting the arts industry, and we invite our guests to join us on this sensory journey while celebrating the creativity and talent of our local artists,” said Falzon. 

Kingpin has worked closely with award-winning production agency VANDAL and R L Foote Design Studio to curate a mix of local & emerging artists to execute the vision of the cocktail exhibition. 

“Working alongside Kingpin, we’re thrilled to present a dynamic exhibition that showcases the talents of both emerging and esteemed local artists. Their unique interpretations of Kingpin’s signature cocktails will bring these beverages to life, creating a truly multi-dimensional experience for our guests,” says Ryan L Foote from R L Foote Design Studio.

The six artists being shown at ‘The Art of Mixology’ include:

• Mikaela Stafford – is an interdisciplinary Melbourne-based artist specialising in large-scale light-based installations and sculpture who has exhibited at the likes of Tate Modern. Commonly found in public spaces around the city, Stafford’s work is characteristically immersive and vibrant. Her latest endeavours have been harnessing dynamic animating, 3D printing and modelling elements.
• Nick Azidis – is an Australian-born new media artist and projection illusionist specialising in large-scale projections, in both digital and analogue mediums. He has compiled a diverse body of work over nearly three decades as a producer, content developer/creator and technician. Nick has delivered projections for the Gertrude Projection Festival, Melbourne White Night and The Australian Open Tennis Championships to name a few.
• Ryan L Foote – is a Melbourne-born artist whose artwork reflects upon contemporary popular culture and the emergence of trend culture. Ryan’s work takes the form of large installations that delve into the opulent culture of food, fashion, art, design, and the layering of visual literacy that surround us. Ryan has created large installations in high-profile venues including the National Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square Melbourne, Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne’s GPO Building, Flinders Lane Gallery and many more. 
• Sahil Roy – is a multi-disciplinary artist and muralist based in Melbourne, AUS. With a creative foundation as a graffiti artist spanning well over a decade, his transition into an abstract approach has allowed him to explore an entirely new avenue of style and creative self-expression.
• Emily Rose Hill –  is a talented florist from Melbourne known for her breathtaking large-scale floral installations. With a passion for nature and a keen eye for design, Emily creates stunning displays and instals that are sure to leave a lasting impression. From grand events to intimate gatherings, she is dedicated to bringing her clients’ visions to life.
• Darren Healey – is a Melbourne-based artist originally from the UK who works in sculpture and video. Releasing work under the aptly named ‘dformed’ he creates sci-fi tinged disfigured sculptures. The pieces or “dforms” take inspiration from scientific principles, theories and the visual geology of the natural cosmos, encapsulating chaos and tension whilst simultaneously being suspended in time. 

The exhibition is only available to guests above 18 years and will be shown exclusively in Melbourne for a limited time. Don’t miss the chance to indulge in the visual and taste-bud-tingling delights of this one-of-a-kind experience. 

In partnership with Diageo, the exhibition will feature some of the their most famous brands such as Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray within the extraordinary art-scapes. 

Warren Parrot, Executive Producer of Parable Productions says, “My daughter Bailey is a lover of art, and I happen to be a lover of cocktails, so when the team at Kingpin located in the Crown Casino precinct in Melbourne invited us down to the launch of their ‘Art of Mixology’ evening it was a definite YES from us! This was a first of its kind experience where artists were given a space to create a piece of art that best described one of the six cocktails that they had on offer for the evening.

When we first entered Kingpin all we knew was that there was going to be some ‘art’ and ‘cocktails’. We were ushered through the main part of Kingpin which had thousands of bowling pins on the wall and ceiling which created an amazing artistic effect in its own right, to a special space created out the back. We walked through the art exhibit first, each space highly unique from the last. Some rooms were bright in color, others simple in nature whilst my favourite was a rainforest style setting that even blew smoke to create its atmosphere.

It wasn’t until we got to the bar at the end that we realised that the artistic spaces were an interpretation of the wonderful cocktails to come. The ‘butterfly flower’ cocktail was visually spectacular with its deep pink color and smoke bubble you could ‘op’ at the top for great effect, and whilst we tried the majority of the cocktails on offer, our favorite was the ‘Tricked out Long Island’ cocktail followed closely by the ‘Zombie’ which looked like something straight out of a classic movie from the 70’s.

We met some great people on the night including Jed McIntosh, one of this years ‘3’ Bachelors. Whilst my daughter is 19, we still took some time to play what Kingpin is well known for, Tenpin Bowling, with their mood lighting and cool tunes, finishing off the night proving that you are never too old to ‘have fun’ in the ‘never ending’ arcade section.”

The Art of Mixology in on at Kingpin – 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, Melbourne until the 12th of March so don’t delay!

For more information visit the website.