COMMON THREADS
6- 10pm
Join us for a night of talks, performance and discussion exploring African and Caribbean identity through textiles, costume and revelry.
2019 significantly marks 400 years since the first slave ship left the coast of West Africa triggering the mass dispersion of African people during the Transatlantic slave trade to different regions the America’s and the Caribbean. We unpick the common threads that link Africa and its diasporas through its rich material culture.
Curated by NOW Gallery in collaboration with Arieta Mujay and Fiona Compton.
NOW Later is a collaborative events series of live interventions, music and performance and has previously featured PATTERNITY, Yinka Ilori, Laundry Service, and London Design Festival; we invite audiences to experience artists’ work from an alternative perspective.
Get involved with the discussion live@nowgalleryse10
TALKS
Woven: Unpicking the future of African and Caribbean Fabrics
7pm, 3rd Floor
Panelists:
Fiona Compton, Know your Caribbean
Arieta Mujay
Kaia Charles, NOW Gallery
Christine Mhando
Teleica Kirland CIAD
Exploring Age and Beauty: Kanaiza
6.30pm, 3rd Floor
Vanessa Onalo of online visual gallery Kanaiza unpacks the unspoken tensions between age and beauty.
@kanaiza.kanaiza
PERFORMANCE
Moko Jumbies
6pm, 7pm, 8pm, Peninsula Square & NOW Gallery
Moko Somõkõw is a Traditional stilt walking Mas troupe based between Trinidad and Newcastle who will perform live across Peninsula Square leading into NOW Gallery.
@mokosomokow
Image courtesy, Jason Audain.
VIVID MATERIAL: INSIGHTS INTO MAKING
Independent artisans deconstruct their garments to reveal process, materials and design inspiration.
Workshop and Display: Labrum
6 – 6.30pm, 8 – 8.30pm, 3rd Floor
Founded in 2014, Labrum London is a modern-day menswear brand telling the untold stories of West Africa to help bridge the gap between Western and West African culture. Labrum will be showcasing the tailoring process on garment construction.
labrumlondon.com
@labrumlondon
Display: Melissa Simon-Hartman
Duration of evening, 3rd Floor
Melissa Simon-Hartman is a London born artist, fashion and costume designer. Extremely proud of her Trinidadian and Ghanaian roots, you will see the cultural influences of her West Indian and West African background in the work presented through her own label, Simon-Hartman.
simon-hartman.com
@simonhartmanldn
PHOTOGRAPHY DISPLAY
Duration of evening, Mezzanine Level
An exploration and depiction of the important role of fashion and the use of textiles in the African and African diasporic societies.
Caroline Chinakwe, Sharon Walters, Abdel Abdulai, Ade Asiko Scarlett Crawford, Seye Isikalu
FILM
Film and archival imagery traversing the rich tapestry the African diaspora.
Entitled by Adeyemi Michael
Duration of evening, 3rd Floor
In this short film about leaving your country of origin, Adeyemi Michael reimagines his mother’s idea of moving from Nigeria to Peckham.
adeyemimichael.com
@adeyemimichael
Know Your Caribbean by Fiona Compton
Duration of evening, Ground Floor
This film reel will delve into the sometimes forgotten and often omitted histories and narratives of the Caribbean. Showcasing rare archival imagery painstakingly unearthed from obscure corners of little known history books it will shine a spotlight on the rich culture and traditions that have come to shape the region as we know it today.
fionacompton.com
@fionacompton
MUSIC
Black Man Wheels
Duration of evening, Peninsula Square
Just Vibez
6pm – 8pm, Ground Floor
Just Vibez is a collective of DJ’s, MC’s, artists and authors. Famous for throwing energetic parties they effortlessly blend both classic and new sounds across Dancehall and Soca channelling the musical spirit of the Caribbean. Dancing shoes recommended.
@justvibez
Born n Bread
8pm – 9.30pm, Ground Floor
With a strong sisterly bond, these south London creatives continue to break barriers with smashing doors down for the younger generation of DJ’s and creatives.
@bornnbread
A special Performance by Alxndr London
9.30 – 10pm, Ground Floor
Alxndr London will be bringing his sound, which nestles amongst spiritual soul, electronica and experimental music, to NOW Gallery.
@mxiiixm
soundcloud.com/mxiiixm
NOW GALLERY EXHIBITION
Human Stories: Circa No Future
Duration of evening, Ground Floor
A body of work by Caribbean Photographer Nadia Huggins. From 4 Oct – 17 November 2019.
nadiahuggins.com
@nadiahuggins