'A Place' - Come see what all the buzz is about...

We're just under a week into the first part of our summer group show, A Place, and the Haggerston building is buzzing with energy as eager visitors explore the unique works each artist has created for this year's show.

This year's show is our biggest yet. With two sites and double the number of artists in residence, we've split the exhibition into two parts to accommodate everyone. The first part, titled "Can I just...", features works by Stephen Akpo, Noah Berrie, Matija Čop, Emmely Elgersma, Dean JF Hoy, John Hui, Sophie Lloyd, Banita Mistry, Daniel The Gardener, and Lulu Wang.

For this show, multidisciplinary artist Banita presents a stunning free-hand line henna piece titled Flight 24_07 (right). Known for exploring technology’s impact on identity, spirituality, environment, and community, Banita spent over a month crafting this intricate work. Using a henna cone, she meticulously piped straight, tightly packed lines onto canvas, drawing inspiration from the 'infinite scroll' feature by Aza Raskin designed to engage mobile users.

In a different approach, Lulu Wang has created Whispers (left), a captivating 3D sculpture that replicates her upcoming live performance on August 6th at Haggerston. Under the exhibition's overarching theme, Lulu's sculpture offers a poignant commentary on the body and the way we share intimate spaces within a place. This work invites viewers to reflect on the connections we forge in shared environments and the silent exchanges that occur in close quarters.

Sophie interpreted A Place as the concept of spaces in between, which is reflected in her work Mannequins. This piece features three sugar and lead sculptures with painted faces, viewed through interlocking panes that reveal their dissatisfied expressions from all angles. The characters make empty gestures towards empty spaces, exploring the relationship between the influencer and the influenced while playing with planes of sight and remaining locked into two-dimensional forms.

Stephen Akpo’s triptych presents a cinematic narrative, with each painting representing a different act of his fictional film. The sequence unfolds from left to right, starting with Act I: Contemplation, moving to Act II: Conflict, and concluding with Act III: Resolution. Titled Les sentiments de l'homme borgne (The Feelings of the One-Eyed Man), this piece invites viewers to immerse themselves in the narrative and make their own interpretations, delving into the emotional landscapes within A Place.

Emmely has developed a water fountain and accompanying bench for this exhibition, building on a sculptural piece she created a few years ago. The fountain is designed to be functional and will test the durability of her chosen materials. The bench invites viewers to pause and take a breather in what can sometimes be an overwhelming space, offering a moment of reflection and calm.

In Capitalism Works for Me (Trump), John Hui uses Trump's mug shot and a reimagined game character to critique the commodification of political figures and their consumption as part of a broader digital spectacle. The painting's tagline, "Capitalism works for me LOL," underscores how political events are often trivialised and gamified in the media, reflecting on the blurred lines between politics and entertainment. Capitalism Works for Me LOL (The Game) extends this theme by offering a satirical look at late capitalism through mini-games. Each game represents different facets of capitalist society, drawing from John's experiences as a queer Asian creative and the stories from his community. By presenting capitalism as a game, John critiques the superficial engagement with complex socio-economic issues, inviting viewers to consider their own places within these systems.

Daniel’s painting explores the intricate relationship between plants and their inherent agency. By dyeing linen with foraged plants that hold personal significance, Daniel reflects on the deep connections between nature and human experience, emphasising our intertwined existence with the environment.

Dean’s work involves reviving and reworking abandoned soft toys, creating a poignant narrative that begins with the youngest members of the 'Bears Who Care' world left behind in Tennessee. These pieces depict their journey as they drift in search of the missing baby, blending elements of mourning with a sense of hope. Through this reimagining, Dean explores themes of abandonment, longing, and the search for belonging, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences of loss and hope within the context of 'A Place'.

And amidst all the tangible creations, be sure to listen out for Noah’s piece. His work introduces a unique form of hyperlocal, spontaneous music. The strings resonate through the materials of the space, animated by invisible FM radio signals that drift through the environment. This innovative setup transforms the space into an ever-changing soundscape, where music spontaneously emerges from the interaction between materials and radio signals. Noah’s approach underscores the intimate and evolving relationship between space and sound, capturing the essence of 'A Place' by revealing how our surroundings and technology can create a dynamic and immersive auditory experience.

By attending the show, you’ll have the opportunity to be truly inspired! Come and say hello to some of the incredible artists behind these remarkable pieces. Explore their creative processes and gain insight into their unique approaches of this year’s theme.

Part One: "Can I just…"

Dates: August 1st to August 16th

Part Two: "…stay longer"

Dates: August 21st to September 6th
Featured Artists: Darcey Fleming, Jo Grogan, Leyman Lahcine, Malgorzata Lisiecka, Kuniko Maeda, Koby Martin, Electric Adam, Anna Nicolò, George Richardson, Almudena Romero

Exhibition Hours

Monday through Sunday: 10am to 6pm
Extended Hours (Thursdays): Until 8pm

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