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Chivas Regal Celebrates Local Photographers with Melbourne Laneway Activation and Exhibition

We caught up with six of Melbourne's best photographers to find out what makes their city special.

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Continuing their pursuit to uplift local creatives, Chivas Regal launches a unique Melbourne laneway takeover featuring six street and portraiture photographers on Monday, 3rd April. To celebrate, the legendary Scotch whisky brand will hold an exhibition at Melbourne’s No Vacancy Gallery featuring further works from the local storytellers from Tuesday 5th April to Sunday 10th of April.

Wilhelm Philipp, James J Robinson, Sam Wong, Jess Broheir, Connor May and Georgia Haynes were hand-picked to be a part of the innovative project for their depictions of success, community and generosity. In a mixed media first, each photographer will have their work painted directly onto Caledonian Lane in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD, showcasing nuances of Melbourne and how these key creatives experience and interpret Melbourne culture. The work will be displayed in the laneway from now until the end of April, offering a public platform to magnify work created by the community to help tell their story.

Bringing the laneway to life, the exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery will add the opportunity to extend the stories from the wall. Each talented storyteller will showcase additional photographs, alongside the opportunity to purchase these works in a silent auction at the launch party on Wednesday 6th April. On offer, there’ll also be exclusive zines and tees created in limited runs to immortalise these works. Proceeds from the auction will be sent directly back to the I Rise, We Rise photographers to help fund and support their artistry.

Ahead of the exhibition, we caught up with the photographers involved to get some more insight into what makes their city so special.

Chivas Regal’s Caledonian Lane Takeover takes place until the end of April and the Vacancy exhibition is hosted from Tuesday April 5th to Sunday April 10th with a launch party scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th soundtracked by C-Pash.

01. Sam Wong

What do you think is special about the creative scene in Melbourne?
It’s a m
ulti-cultural city, you can really experience all genres of art, music, food and events at any time of the year. The creative scene definitely took a very hard hit during the pandemic with the closure of exhibitions, festivals, events and more, but it makes me really happy seeing Melbourne opening up again and recovering.

Where is your favourite place to spend a night out in Melbourne and why?
I don’t have a favourite place but my favourite areas to spend a night out would be CBD, Fitzroy, Northcote, and Collingwood. 

Who is making your favourite music in Melbourne right now?
Chef Chung.

Follow Sam Wong here for more.

02. Jess Brohier

What do you think is special about the creative scene in Melbourne?
Being so far away from the rest of the world, it feels like we are a small and tight-knit community, everyone leans on each other and (for the most part) it’s super supportive. We are also a multicultural and diverse group of creatives and this shows in the work we create. 

Where is your favourite place to spend a night out in Melbourne and why?
It would be wherever my friends are showing their latest artwork, launching their new collection or playing a set/performing. For me, nothing is better than seeing the people you love kill it in what they love doing. 

Who is making your favourite music in Melbourne right now?
Loving the work of my girl Ellen Bryant who just launched her new music, also really digging vibes of 30/70 and Jordan Rakei. My all-time fave is Big Words if we’re talking Melbourne.

Follow Jess Brohier here for more.

03. James Robinson

What do you think is special about the creative scene in Melbourne?Working in Melbourne is particularly incredible over other cities I work in, just because we’re so isolated from the rest of the world physically, but not creatively. This means we really rely on local artists over international ones, and it creates a sense of community that completely towers above any other city.

Where is your favourite place to spend a night out in Melbourne and why? Flippys Bar in Brunswick. It’s a modest queer bar that doesn’t try too hard to attract a particular crowd. It’s very welcoming to everybody, the way queer bars should be.

Who is making your favourite music in Melbourne right now?
Maple Glider.

Follow James Robinson here for more.

04. Wilhelm Philipp

What do you think is special about the creative scene in Melbourne?
The authenticity and hard work is what makes it special. People dedicate years of their lives to their craft and ideas. There’s little finance or fame to be made here so if you’re doing it then it’s purely for self and the community you are a part of. I know many artists who deserve more, we have some of the best in the world walking passed you on the street.

Where is your favourite place to spend a night out in Melbourne and why
Walking is my favourite activity, especially at night and especially in my area of Box Hill. Great food options (shout out Luyangs, VegieHut, Pho 888 + Petaling Street, when it was still around) and some lovely scenic routes to walk home through. When the clouds have dispersed and you can feel a slight cool breeze in the air you know it’s going to be a good night. 

Outside of that spending time at a mates house until the early mornings is where I’d love to be, normally with tears in my eyes from laughing too much. I’m lucky enough to still have great friendships with friends from both primary and high school, those people know me so well and bring me a lot of joy in life. Shout out Nan Street and The Mansion.

Who is making your favourite music in Melbourne right now?
Currently; KHA & Muscles of Posseshot, Chef Chung, DIB & El Jako of Ringwood Records, Tornts, Big Words, Swell, Juno Mamba, Baro, Mikey Young, Total Control, Mog.Y, Sleep D and a bunch more. Some of my favourite artists are from Melbourne and Australia, shout out to everyone representing the city directly/indirectly and being the score for so many moments of my life.

Follow Wilhelm Phillip here for more.

05. Georgia Haynes

What do you think is special about the creative scene in Melbourne?
There are a lot of super talented creatives coming out of Melbourne – it’s really cool to see Melbourne is making its own wave in the world. I think what’s happening right now is more exciting than ever.

Where is your favourite place to spend a night out in Melbourne and why?
I would say my favourite place to spend a night is at Rooftop Bar and Cookie. You can have drinks up at Rooftop then head down to Mesa Verde or Cookie for dinner and also spend the rest of the night at The Toff till 5am on the weekend. Cookie is an establishment that has been around for a number of years now and it’s such an iconic venue in Melbourne’s CBD.

Who is making your favourite music in Melbourne right now?
This question is so hard! There are too many but Sampa The Great, always! And Daine.

Follow Georgia Haynes here for more.

06. Connor May

What do you think is special about the creative scene in Melbourne?
I like that in Melbourne, many creatives are exploring several projects at any given time which encourages multiple people to work together to get to the final product/objective.

Where is your favourite place to spend a night out in Melbourne and why?
My Favourite place to spend a night out is somewhere quiet with good food & close friends.

Who is making your favourite music in Melbourne right now?
Anyone who is doing it all themselves, obsessing over the details and controlling their own narrative. Shoutout Sevn Aguarda.

Follow Connor May here for more.