Come hang out with me! In this new series, I share what I’ve been to, what I’m going to and what I’d like to see.
Seen 👀
Manchester Collective, Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs and Metamorphosen — Bold Tendencies, Peckham (London UK)
15 July
I loved this performance! I didn’t know too much about the Manchester Collective before I went but they were incredible and so generous with their knowledge. What I love about Bold Tendencies is that it’s exposed to the elements and you can hear the sound of the Overground as it turns the corner. To see the weather change from sunny to cold and windy as they performed a work about life and death, celebrating the beauty and inevitably, was amazing.
NOW Later: Draw-In — NOW Gallery, Greenwich (London UK)
16 July
Curator Jemima Burrill and the NOW Gallery team design the most thoughtful events that really do bring people together. I often go by myself and meet such lovely people and have really interesting conversations. I was really happy to see that artists Laxmi Hussain and Frances Costelloe were hosting workshops. While I wasn’t able to do Frances workshop, I did get to see Laxmi paint Margie Belle with her signature electric blue fluid lines — both a soothing and thrilling experience — and do a little life drawing.
George Rouy: BODY SUIT – Live with Sharon Eyal L-E-V with music by Soft Toys — Hannah Barry Gallery, Peckham (London)
16 July
I was incredibly lucky to be invited to this! After the Draw-In, I dashed to Peckham to see my favourite choreographer Sharon Eyal’s L-E-V company perform against the backdrop of George Rouy’s latest exhibition BODY SUIT. Five years in the making, this was an incredible collaboration between George Rouy, Sharon Eyal, the L-E-V dancers, Hannah Barry and Maria Grazia Chiuri from Dior. Each artist drew inspiration from the other artist’s work, creating something completely unique and I doubt I’ll ever see anything like it again. And to meet Sharon and some of the dancers afterwards, including one of my favourites Alice Godfrey, to thank them and tell them how much the work means to me is something I will hold dearly. Sharon’s choreography is inspired by club nights in Tel Aviv and getting lost on the dance floor. I’m still there!
Going to 👋
Oona Doherty: Hope Hunt — Bold Tendencies (Peckham, London)
22 July 2023
I’m really looking forward to seeing the Irish choreographer Oona Doherty’s work Hope Hunt this Saturday — and I’ve heard amazing things about the dancer Sati Veyrunes— and while I don’t know what to expect exactly I’m pretty sure I’ll be blown away by a distinctive and intense performance. I’ve also seen a car was hoisted onto the car park for it!
Lagos, Peckham, Repeat: Pilgrimage to the Lakes — South London Gallery (Peckham, London)
5 July – 29 Oct 2023
I was sad to miss the opening night of Lagos, Peckham, Repeat as Kieron Lewis who we interviewed worked with South London Gallery on the design for the exhibition. The exhibition is co-curated by Folakunle Oshun, founder and director of the Lagos Biennial, and explores the relationship between Peckham, known as ‘Little Lagos’ — home to one of the largest Nigerian diaspora communities in the UK — and Lagos in Nigeria. The exhibition showcases works by thirteen Nigerian and British-Nigerian artists across sculpture, photography, sound and film.
Wishing I was going to 😭
untitled fck miss s*gon the play — Royal Exchange Theatre (Manchester, UK)
17-22 July 2023
The people of Manchester are so lucky! I’d love to see anything at the Manchester Festival this year. Winner of the inaugural Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2019, International Award, from reviews it sounds like Kimber Lee’s is both ferocious and hilarious, blasting Asian stereotypes and confronting colonialism and attitudes and stereotypes about South West Asia. Luckily for me, this is coming to London so I will definitely be booking a ticket!
