Violins become concert halls, pianos resemble monumental industrial structures, and the curved passages of brass and woodwind instruments evoke tunnels, chambers, and cathedrals.
In Architecture in Music, fine art photographer and former professional cellist Charles Brooks reveals the extraordinary hidden interiors of musical instruments, transforming spaces only millimetres wide into vast architectural landscapes.
Using specially adapted medical endoscopes, probe lenses and custom-built equipment, Brooks captures fractions of an instrument’s interior at a time. Hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of individual exposures are then meticulously assembled to reveal timber grain, tool marks, patina, repairs and traces left by generations of makers and musicians.
Following international exhibitions and acclaim around the world, Architecture in Music makes its Australian premiere in Adelaide.
For the first time, Brooks’ remarkable photographs will also expand beyond the frame in a brand-new immersive experience created for our Studio, inviting you to journey inside these extraordinary instruments at monumental scale.
Discover musical instruments from an entirely new perspective, not simply as objects that create sound, but as intricate constructed worlds, each containing its own hidden architecture, history and character.
Presented by Charles Brooks and Immersive Light and Art
DATES AND TIMES
12 Nov – 5 Dec 2026
Wed | 10am to 5pm
Thu – Sat | 10am to 8pm*
Purchase a ticket to your preferred session listed below and arrive anytime within that window. Please allow 30-45 minutes to enjoy the full Architecture in Music experience at your leisure.
10am – 12:30pm
12:30pm – 3pm
3pm – 5pm
5pm – 8pm*
*No evening sessions on Wednesdays, and exhibition will be closed from 3pm on Thursday 26 November for a special music performance from Slava and Sharon Grigoryan – Live.
TICKETS
You can purchase tickets in advance via our website with a small booking fee attached, or from the ILA Bar on the day.
Pre-booked via our website
General Admission | $15 + booking fee
Seniors Card* | $12 + booking fee
Concession Card* | $12 + booking fee
Groups of 6+ | $12 per person + booking fee
At the ILA Bar on the day:
General Admission | $18
Seniors Card* | $15
Concession Card* | $15
Groups of 6+ | $15 per person
Free, but must have a valid ticket
Children under 12
Companion Cards*
*Must have a valid card and present to staff upon arrival.
OTHER EVENTS
SLAVA & SHARON GRIGORYAN – LIVE
For one night only, acclaimed guitarist Slava Grigoryan and Australian String Quartet alumnus Sharon Grigoryan perform live within the extraordinary world of Charles Brooks’ Architecture in Music.
Thu 26 Nov, 6:30pm
ACCESS INFORMATION
Relaxed Sessions
Wed 18 Nov | 10am – 12:30pm
Relaxed sessions are specifically designed to make our events accessible for neurodiverse audiences, the Autistic community, and individuals with sensory needs. They have reduced capacity, lowered sound levels, and clear signage and audiences are invited to enjoy the experience in their own way.
Companion Cards
We honour the Companion Card scheme. Card holders are entitled to a second ticket to this event for their companion at no cost.
Tickets must be booked in advance via our website. Please purchase a zero price “Companion Card” ticket when making your booking and present your Card on the day with your ticket at the ILA Bar.
Venue Access
The ILA Gallery and Studio is located on level 1 of Immersive Light and Art | ILA. There is level access via a lift to the first floor and a unisex accessible toilet is available on level 1 to ensure a comfortable experience for all guests. If you would like further support for your visit or have any questions, please contact the ILA team here.
Our venue accessibility guide is available here.
SCHOOL GROUPS
Bring your students inside the extraordinary world of Architecture in Music. School groups are warmly invited to experience Charles Brooks’ remarkable photography and explore the hidden worlds inside musical instruments at monumental scale in our immersive Studio.
To plan a visit for your school group, contact schools@immersivelightandart.com.au and our team will help you arrange your experience.
EAT AND DRINK
Visit our light-filled ILA Bar on level 1 for a refreshment alongside this performance.
Or enjoy a meal at our award-winning restaurant Aurora on the ground floor. Open Friday and Saturdays from 6pm.
GETTING HERE
Immersive Light and Art | ILA is located in the heart of Adelaide’s West End at 63 Light Square, Adelaide. The ILA Gallery and Studio can be found upstairs on level 1, accessible by stairs or lift.
A combination of free and ticketed (until 6pm) street parking is available directly outside the venue on Light Square, with additional parking available nearby on Waymouth Street and Elizabeth Street, both just a short walk away. For added convenience, K Park Car Parks on Currie Street is also located close to this venue.
ILA is also easily accessible via public transport, with bus, tram and train options within walking distance. We are a short walk from the North Terrace and King William Road tram stops, Adelaide Railway Station and have multiple bus routes operating along nearby Currie Street.
CONNECT WITH US!
#ArchitectureInMusic
Instagram: @immersivelightandart | @charlescellist
Facebook: @immersivelightandart | @charlesbrooksphotographer
EXHIBITION CREDITS
Presented by Charles Brooks and Immersive Light and Art.
Photographer
Charles Brooks
Charles Brooks is an Australian-based fine art photographer and former professional cellist whose work explores music, craftsmanship and visual perception.
Best known for his internationally acclaimed series Architecture In Music, Brooks uses specially adapted medical optics and probe lenses to reveal the hidden interiors of rare and historic musical instruments, transforming millimetre-wide spaces into monumental architectural landscapes.
Since launching in 2022, the series has been exhibited internationally and featured in National Geographic, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, The Telegraph and NBC News. After an international orchestral career spanning several continents, Brooks returned to Australia in 2024 and is now based in Melbourne.
Find out more
architectureinmusic.com
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS
