Traces of Play is a participatory installation that celebrates the folk, playground, and street games we used to play.
From sticks to stones, erasers to elastic bands, walnuts to wooden spoons: Traces of Play invites us to subvert these humble everyday objects into magnificent playthings of joy.
Participants are invited to play games contributed by the community, and add their own favourite childhood game to the installation.
Exhibited at the Roslyn Smorgon Gallery at Footscray Community Arts from 17 September – 13 December 2025.
The installation was a part of the We Have Been Called Many Things exhibition curated by Curatorial Ensemble, and featured as part of Melbourne Fringe and Melbourne International Games Week.
Collaborator: Chad Toprak
Creative development supported by City of Melbourne Arts Grants.
Photos credit (installation and workshop photos): Helen Kwok & Chad Toprak
Photos credit (last 2nd-4th photos): Thuy Vy
Photos credit (last photo): Yi Li