Queen Victoria Gardens

Futurismo Qahwa plays on the Arabic word for coffee, spinning the Western eye phonetically to translate to “coffee, future”.

This is an open air cafe-turned-experiential installation. Using nostalgia to question what a utopian sound of the future could be, the audio experience features historically significant government official speeches, music steeped in Middle Eastern heritage and pop culture references. Bombarded by sound and looped audio, listeners’ senses are drawn to question the corners of the globe, even as the physical furnishings speak to both displacement from homelands and the rebuilding of those homelands in this unique, thought-provoking experience that invites the audience to think about the distant future.

• 1pm–5pm: Seated sound installation with complimentary coffee.
• 5.30pm–10pm: Live DJs sets featuring Evripidou, MzRizk, Ricali, and Netflixxandbills.

CollaboratorS:

Ricali Ebejer is a Producer and DJ based in Naarm, describing his roots as “Middleterranean”, he draws influence from his unique blend of Southern European and Arabic heritage. Ricali likes to bring high-energy music from all around the Mediterranean and Latin communities, and is happiest when he sees people dancing and connecting over a love for music.

Majed Fayad is a Lebanese-Australian multidisciplinary artist who holds an extensive and unique portfolio. His work spans a wide range of visual stimuli, including large experiential installations, sound works, ready-mades, video art, graphic design, and pushing the boundaries of digital imagery. Majed’s practice focuses attention on the often overlooked divide and blend of Middle Eastern & Western culture. He works to bring attention to conceptualisations of identity and iconography through a forward thinking, futuristic & dystopian experience. Majed’s often overlooked angle shifts the lens through ideations of 21st century capitalism, consumerism, Greek mythology, Renaissance art and pop culture.

MzRizk is a Lebanese Australian DJ, radio presenter, and event curator. She has earned widespread acclaim as one of Melbourne’s most respected music connoisseurs, winning Best DJ 2022 at the Music Victoria Awards, and as the host of the community radio show Boogie Beat Suite on PBS 106.7FM. Over the past two decades, she has performed at prestigious events such as Glastonbury UK and has taken her music to New York, Tilburg, Pakistan, and Croatia. MzRizk also actively uses her platform to advocate for various communities. Through projects like Rizky’s Block Party, Habibi Hafla, Hip Hop High Tea, and HALO Vocal Ensemble, she creates spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together in unity, and celebrate their cultural intersections with pride.