Gaming Meets History: Feng Mengbo’s ‘Long March: Restart’ Comes to ACMI
If you find yourself in Melbourne this August, prepare for a fascinating collision of 20th-century history, pop culture, and 16-bit nostalgia. ACMI, in partnership with the City of Melbourne’s Now or Never festival, has announced a landmark interactive installation: Long March: Restart by acclaimed Chinese artist Feng Mengbo.
Launching on Wednesday, 19 August, this large-scale playable installation transforms the museum into a sprawling digital battlefield. Far from a static art piece, Long March: Restart invites visitors to pick up a controller and guide a Chinese soldier through a side-scrolling odyssey.
A Cultural Mash-up
The work is a bold, playful reimagining of China’s 20th-century modernization. Feng Mengbo masterfully weaves together the historical weight of the Long March (1934–36)—the foundational moment of Mao Zedong’s rise to power—with the vibrant, surreal influence of Western consumerism and 1980s gaming culture.
As players navigate the immersive screens, the gameplay takes on a surreal edge. Instead of traditional weaponry, your soldier is armed with Coca-Cola cans, tasked with fending off supernatural creatures while traversing a landscape that feels pulled straight from the golden age of 16-bit classics like Super Mario and Street Fighter.
Why It Matters
Feng Mengbo, a pioneer in China’s digital media scene, has long been celebrated for using the videogame medium as a tool for profound artistic expression. His work, which occupies the collections of major institutions like MoMA and the Guggenheim, bridges the gap between traditional fine art and modern digital interaction.
“This is a hugely important artwork in the history of interactive art,” says Seb Chan, ACMI’s Director and CEO. “It draws on the fun nostalgic aesthetics of the 16-bit videogames of the 1990s. Long March: Restart is a playful work that everyone will find something in.”
For the Now or Never festival, which centers on the theme “A Whole New World,” the installation serves as a perfect centerpiece. Artistic Director Elise Peyronnet notes that the work perfectly captures the festival’s focus on “bold new forms of digital storytelling and worldbuilding.”
Exhibition Details
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Where: ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne
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When: 19 August 2026 – 31 January 2027
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Cost: Free (No bookings required)
Whether you’re a fan of gaming history, contemporary art, or just looking for a unique interactive experience, Long March: Restart is set to be one of the must-see cultural events of the year. For more information, head over to acmi.net.au.
About the Author
Adrian Gunning Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.
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