Sydney goes pop, Japanese style

BY ROJE ADAIMY

Sydney’s simple city skyline and relatively quiet streetscape is a far cry from the bright and buzzing neon-lit city of Tokyo. Yet behind the facade of these two differing cities lies a number of subtle similarities, as Sydney slowly becomes a growing hub of Japanese-influenced culture.
Based on the emergence of the pop street photography scene, NEOSYDNEY + NEOTOKYO is an exhibition featuring juxtoposed photos of Tokyo and Sydney as a narrative of the life and heart of the two cities.
Creators of the exhibition, Heine Ly and Kevin Vo (known as Symple) say the exhibition portrays images of Sydney that are not generally seen by tourists, yet embody the heart and culture of the city.
“We are just trying to show parts Sydney that people sometimes miss,” one half of Symple, artist Heline Ly said. “Whilst many images are reflective of what is uniquely seen as Sydney/Tokyo, there are a few instances where places and themes collide and intersect.”
It’s the first time such a connection between Sydney and Tokyo has been explored through art, but Heline is optimistic about its significance.
“We hope that this will instigate discussion on the similarities in cities and to make a statement that culture is created and recreated to reflect the change in our surroundings,” Heline said.
Inspired by Tokyo’s alluring city lights, Japanese pop culture and the influences of the hip Japanese photographer Hiromix, the exhibition will feature street photography in the form of illuminated light boxes, mounted to walls in a dark exhibition space to give the feel of night.
NEOSYDNEY + NEOTOKYO opens on June 5 and runs until June 25 at The Japan Foundation Gallery, Level 1, Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square Sydney; Monday – Friday, 11am to 4pm. Admission is free.