We feel pretty lucky that our city is flush with eye-catching art right now and we’re even more grateful that another striking showcase has bloomed at inner-city dining and entertainment precinct Brisbane Quarter. From August 3–31, art lovers can take their peepers on a cultural journey with help from breathtaking art pop-up The Love of Life. Created by three talented local Brisbane artists, Mabina Alaka, Ken Kikkawa and Hiroaki Eba, the installation was inspired by QAGOMA’s thread-filled exhibition Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles. The exhibition combines a number of dazzling elements including live florals, clay and fabric creations that pay tribute to nature and utilise traditional Japanese techniques.

All three artists hail from Japan, with each individual creative using their artistic skills to showcase their Japanese heritage and spotlight nature’s beauty. Mabina uses materials like vintage Kimono fabrics, Japanese cotton and traditional Japanese paper to create a “little world inside of each tree” while Ken crafts ceramic art works that strike a unique balance between Australia’s natural glories and the aesthetic traditions of Japan. Last but not least, Hiroaki creates floral designs and art pieces that appreciate natural organic elements – think man-made orchid trees using sphagnum moss and rainforest frogs crafted from clay.

The Love of Life is open to the public Monday to Sunday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Go have a gander now! If you’re feeling thirsty, head upstairs to Tenya Japanese Restaurant where you can try the limited-edition ‘The Love of Life’ cocktail, available for the month of August.

This article was written in partnership with Brisbane Quarter.