Sydney’s Darling Square has been transformed into Hello Kitty Town, an outdoor art gallery with Hello Kitty-themed exhibitions, installations and F&B, running through April 2022.
The Hello Kitty-themed street festival is available until April 29. Developed in partnership with Sanrio, it includes an outdoor art gallery featuring works by graphic designers, illustrators and street artists.
These include Melbourne-based artist and designer Bei Badgirl, illustrator Lauren Carney, graphic designer and illustrator Steph Cartledge, UK cartoonist, writer and illustrator Gemma Correll, and Berlin-based artist and illustrator DXTR.
Other artists showcased at Hello Kitty Town are Justine McAllister, George Rose, Travis Price, Sahil Roy, Sofles and Mel Stringer. Highlights include an enormous Hello Kitty inflatable.
As for F&B, Darling Square’s restaurants are serving up more than 30 Hello Kitty-inspired dishes. Ume Burger has a Bad Badtz-Maru cheeseburger on the menu, while Toastie Smith is selling limited edition toasties with Hello Kitty-style ham bows.
Drinks at Bubble Nini Tea include KeroKeroKeroppi Matcha and Hello Kitty Strawberry Yoghurt Crush, and Auvers Dining is serving a Gudetama-themed burger. Hello Kitty-themed bento boxes and ice cream sandwiches are also on offer.
Hello Kitty-themed artworks and F&B
Elsewhere, China’s first Hello Kitty hotel is opening in Hainan in 2025 as part of the Sanya Hello Kitty Resort, which launches in 2024. Guests will enjoy an immersive stay at the Sanrio-themed hotel, which will feature interactive experiences and innovative design.
“We believe that the hotel and Sanya Hello Kitty Resort will become icons in Hainan’s tourism landscape and enable us to tap the growing demand for high-quality travel experiences in this region,” said Jeffery Pun, CEO of Keyestone Group.
The 52-acre Sanya Hello Kitty Resort, China’s second Hello Kitty theme park, was announced in 2019. Japan already has two Hello Kitty theme parks, Harmonyland and Sanrio Puroland. There are also Sanrio theme parks in South Korea and Malaysia.
Images: Darling Square
