Arca Arcade: Round One transforms classic gaming nostalgia into contemporary interactive art
For many retro gamers, arcade cabinets are more than just machines. They’re time capsules of high-score battles, weekend hangouts and countless 20-cent coins spent chasing gaming glory. A new Melbourne exhibition is looking to celebrate that legacy while reimagining the humble arcade cabinet as something entirely different: contemporary art.
Arca Arcade: Round One, now showing at the Carlisle Street Arts Space in St Kilda, brings one of Australia’s first touring collections of fully playable arcade artworks to Melbourne following a successful regional Victorian tour.
Created by Māori designer and artist Preston McNeil, the exhibition features a collection of handcrafted, wall-mounted arcade cabinets that blur the lines between gaming, industrial design and fine art. Unlike traditional arcade restorations that focus on preserving classic machines, McNeil’s vision transforms the arcade cabinet itself into the artwork.
“I hope people leave thinking, ‘That wasn’t what I expected’,” McNeil said. “Even if they have no connection to arcade games, I want them to see the cabinets as beautifully crafted contemporary objects first, and gaming machines second.”
Playable Art With Retro Gaming Roots
What makes Arca Arcade stand out is that these aren’t static gallery pieces. Every cabinet is fully playable, inviting visitors to interact with the works rather than simply admire them from a distance.
The exhibition’s centrepiece is McNeil’s Tākaro series, which draws inspiration from his Māori whakapapa while using arcade gaming culture as a platform for contemporary Indigenous storytelling. Each cabinet is handcrafted using modern materials and features unique design touches, including pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) joystick ball tops created by stone artist and jeweller Joe Sheehan.
For retro gaming enthusiasts, the exhibition highlights the enduring cultural significance of arcade gaming beyond the games themselves.
“People remember chasing a high score, spending time with friends or discovering a place where they felt they belonged,” McNeil explained. “For some, the arcade was a refuge. When people stand in front of an arcade cabinet today, they’re often reconnecting with a moment in their own story.”
Indigenous Collaboration
During the exhibition’s two-month Melbourne run, McNeil will be joined by celebrated Indigenous artist and game designer Jarra Karalinar Steel, the Rupert Bunny Fellow 2025. The collaboration marks the beginning of Arca’s broader ambition to work alongside Indigenous artists from around the world.
The City of Port Phillip has embraced the exhibition as part of its commitment to arts, culture and creative technology, highlighting Melbourne’s growing reputation as Australia’s gaming capital.
A Different Way of Looking at Arcade Culture
While many retro gaming exhibitions focus on preservation and nostalgia, Arca Arcade encourages visitors to view arcade cabinets through a different lens. The machines become design objects, conversation pieces and cultural artefacts, while still retaining the interactivity that made arcades special in the first place.
It’s a fascinating concept that will likely resonate with anyone who grew up in arcades during gaming’s golden age.
Exhibition Details
Arca Arcade: Round One
Carlisle Street Arts Space, St Kilda, Victoria
Until 31 October 2026
Free Entry
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm
The exhibition will also feature artist talks, workshops and public programming throughout its run. For serious collectors, the arcade artworks are available for commission, with limited numbers being produced.
For more information, visit Arca Objects at arcaobjects.nz.
image source: Thorn PR