• Formal Introduction
• Opening performance – Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow)
• Second performance – U>N>I>T>E>D, by Chunky Move
• Interview – between William Yang and Asia TOPA Creative Director, Jeff Khan

After a five-year hiatus, Asia TOPA returns from 20 February – 10 March with an extraordinary program of new art and performance from across the Asia-Pacific. Every three years, Asia TOPA brings the best of Asia-Pacific arts, culture and ideas to Naarm/Melbourne for a three-week-long city-wide celebration that spotlights our diverse and dynamic region.

The first two triennials were presented in 2017 and 2020, led by founding Creative Director Stephen Armstrong. These inaugural editions of Asia TOPA established the triennial as a key cultural event in Australia’s arts calendar, working with essential Australian and Asia-Pacific voices to realise ambitious and vital works and bring audiences together across boundaries and cultural difference.

Asia TOPA’s Creative Director, Jeff Khan, said in the proceedings for the launch event;

“As a major international arts event, this festival aims to foster ties with our global neighbours, bringing together cultural innovators and visionaries from the Asia-Pacific to our city. We are privileged to have so many incredible artists as part of the program this year; there is truly something for everyone.”

Asia TOPA performance – Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow)

The day started with a first ever preview performance of Gapu Ŋupan (Chasing the Rainbow) which showcased a cross-cultural collaboration featuring First Nations artists from Arnhem Land and Taiwan. The show description states Gapu Ŋupan is a performance “weaving together Yolŋu songlines from North East Arnhem Land and storytelling from Paiwan and Amis artists from Taiwan, this is a rare glimpse into ancient cultures forging a future vision. This performance can be seen from 27 February 2025 — 1 March 2025 at the Playhouse at the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Performance by Chunky Move for Asia TOPA show, U>N>I>T>E>D

Following, the exceptional dancers from iconic dance company Chunky Move, with U>N>I>T>E>D; a new international dance and music collaboration at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl that showcases exoskeletons and mechanical limbs in sharp and hard hitting choreography from the company’s own, Antony Hamilton. The performance features six dancers wearing upcycled, motocross-inspired, exoskeleton costumes, as they explore “machine mysticism and the persistence of spirituality in a post-industrial digital age”.

Their performances range from 27 February 2025 — 2 March 2025 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

Exclusive interview between Milestone’s William Yang and Asia TOPA Creative Director, Jeff Khan

Concluding the proceedings was an insightful interview between Jeff Khan and William Yang, discussing the history and inspiration behind Asia TOPA’s opening night concert Milestone on Thursday 20th February, which will feature the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Elena Kats-Chernin. “Yang is a trailblazing champion of Asian–Australian culture internationally. He documented the birth of Australia’s LGBTQI+ rights movement from the early days of Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras to the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 90s. Unassuming, evocative and honestly examined, Yang looks back on his vast archive of photography, contemplating five decades of social change and the evolution of Australia’s bohemian artist community.” You can watch the full interview between Khan and Yang here.

This performance has only one show, on 20 February 2025, at the Hamer Hall in the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Asia TOPA is a joint initiative of Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sidney Myer Fund, supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, Playking Foundation and the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. 

Images and video captured by Cameron Grant.

To get in contact or submit a booking enquiry, navigate to our Contact Page.