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Meet the artists bringing Sneakers Unboxed: Up Late to life

November 22 2023

Step into the rhythm of the streets at Sneakers Unboxed: Up Late - where sneaker culture meets hip-hop flair in an electrifying night of urban style and innovation. Grab some dinner while enjoying life music, get your feet moving shooting hoops, and have your shoes shined all before stepping foot in HOTA Gallery.

Then head inside to party the night away with these incredible artists bringing sneakers to life.

#Meet the artists

Experience a game of basketball without the ball, players, hoop or court in this in beatboxing performance like no other. You’ll be transported into an imaginary game with Tom Thum.

It's been said many times that beatboxer Tom Thum appears to have not only a symphony orchestra but also a jazz band, techno DJ, 80s synth pop group and collection of exotic world instruments all residing somewhere in his throat. Recognized worldwide for his obscure talent to warp and manipulate his vocal chords, he provides confirmation to his audience that there’s no sound he cannot mimic to perfection.

Like many artists, Thum's talents were honed from behind his bedroom door. Spending hours listening to artists such as The Fat Boys and Dougie Fresh, he began echoing their boom-bap beats and synths with his voice. Performing at open mic nights and hip-hop jams in his hometown of Brisbane, Australia, it wasn't long before his part-time hobby became a full-time reality.

Thum's unique abilities have seen him perform to sold-out crowds all over the world. His recent 'Thum Prints' collaboration with Gordon Hamilton and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra has put him in a league of his own. With his vocal talents being sought out by Disney, Audi, DAB+ and more, Thum has proven that his sound is truly world-class and transcends expectations.

Be led by fashion and dance into the exhibition with Pru Wilson.

Pru Wilson is a woman who wears many ‘hats’ in the arts community on the Gold Coast.  She's a producer, choreographer, dancer, director, photographer, videographer, adjudicator, dance convenor and also a stage manager. 

Pru began her dance training from a young age on the Gold Coast training in a variety of styles. She later moved to Melbourne to complete a Diploma in Dance Performance and her Associate in Musical Theatre.

She relocated to London in July 2015 for two years and became a member of Boy Blue Entertainment and House of Jazz Company. She’s performed at Dancer’s Delight, World of Dance (UK), Show & Prove, Hotstepper, PJD Showcase (Rome, Italy), Freaky Art Show (Paris, France) Choreographed for Art Lover Ground & Manelogui Summer Show (Saint Bazeille, France) and was Company manager/UK tour manager for ‘UnTitled Dance Company’. Along with being a faculty member at Europe’s biggest dance studio, Studio 68 London, and she’s taught internationally throughout Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, Japan and the Philippines.

Some of her recent performing arts credits include: Gold Palm Theatre award recipient for her choreography on St. Hilda’s Musical - Matilda, Performer ‘How To Spell Love’ - Brisbane Festival and QLD poetry festival, Performer YT Dingos EP tour and Performer and collaborator on Matilda Award-winning ‘Inside Out’ contemporary dance work by Tammy Zarb and Co - Bleach Festival.

Get your heart beat up with a short aerobics session with Common Dance People Project.

Neridah Waters (Common Dance People Project) is a choreographer, performer and theatremaker. She's toured her work to The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, USA, England and extensively throughout Australia with Lala Parlour, Common People Dance Project, The Brides of Frank and The Escapists. She's worked as an actor/choreographer for La Boîte, Queensland Theatre, Imaginary Theatre, DeBase, Metro Arts, Brisbane Powerhouse, PlayLab, Flipside Circus and NORPA. She's choreographed large-scale community projects for Queensland Music Festival and QPAC's Out Of The Box Festival.

Neridah runs her own company called the Common People Dance Project where she runs various community dance projects including the Living Room Dance Party, the Socially Distanced Dance Party and the Eisteddfod with a regular outcome each year at Brisbane Festival, The Horizon Festival in the Sunshine Coast, the Spark Festival in Ipswich and Wynnum Fringe. She performed Boyle and Waters in LEOTARD at Metro Arts and toured through Queensland. Neridah performed in Dirty Fame Flash Candles Club at the Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane Comedy Festival and has recently returned from a tour from outback Queensland.

From dance and music through to culture, sneakers have been the platform for fun, sports, and a whole lot of energy.

Blaze Angel is a force to be reckoned with. She’s achieved a lot at a very young age, and being announced as a NSW finalist for Miss Universe Australia is just scratching the surface.

A talented surfer and skater, Blaze has always had a love for surf and sneakers.

Pia Pressure sets the mood to DANCE!

A breath of fresh air, this Brissy local is sure to delight and entrance partiers of all walks of life. Formally the life of the party, Pia Pressure IS the party.

Glitz, glam, and everything fab, Pia Pressure is highly adaptable as an open format DJ with her preference being a combination of 2000s nostalgia with the latest bangers. Always delivering an experience you won’t forget!

With humble beginnings DJ-ing on the Gold Coast in Burleigh shortly after purchasing her first decks, Pia embraced her love of music and performance, and soon enough that iconic pink wig began making a regular appearance

The Exhibitionist Bar has never been so cool. Eat, drink, and get your funk on with Gold Coast local Koolz.

Hailing from the land of sunshine and sandy beaches on the Gold Coast, Koolz is an Australian R&B/Pop singer and songwriter who's just unleashed her debut self-titled EP this year!

While her solo passion project is about to take off, Koolz has been working and collaborating with the best for many years. Name dropping may seem lame, but not when it includes working with legends like M-phazes, Bliss N Eso, Electrik Lemonade, Katanak and LEMAIRE - how's that for a dazzling array of musical genius?

Art is at the heart of everything we do and you get to dip your toes into being an artist with our workshop.

Dion Parker is an awakening multidisciplinary artist from Queensland’s Gold Coast, probably best known for his character Lil Dusty. Dions tries not to take like too seriously and his work is often fun, simple and bright with touches of humour. 

Head into The Studio to unleash your creativity by leaving your mark on a huge graffiti mural or bring a pair of sneakers to paint your own shoes.