International performance art festival
May 26–June 3, 2018
Block Universe, London’s leading international performance art festival, launches its fourth edition, which will run for 10 days, starting on May 26 and running until June 3, 2018.
In collaboration with cultural institutions and organisations across the city, including the Royal Academy of Arts, Siobhan Davies Dance, The Store X, British Museum, Somerset House, Studio Voltaire, Oval Space and Brunel Museum the festival will present work by some of the most innovative UK-based and international artists working in performance today, alongside talks, workshops and special projects.
Positioning London at the forefront of international performance art, Block Universe 2018 will feature three UK premieres (Maria Hassabi, Giselle Stanborough and Nora Turato) and seven new, site-specific commissions (Evan Ifekoya & Victoria Sin, Gery Georgieva, Hanne Lippard, Alex Mirutziu, Last Yearz Interesting Negro/Jamila Johnson-Small, They Are Here and Laura Wilson) by artists working at the cross-section of contemporary visual art, dance and music. This year’s edition explores themes that act as a counterpoint to the current divisiveness created by contemporary politics, focusing on, as well as questioning, utopian ideals of community and collectivity. By addressing the ways in which we relate to one another, the contributors will respond both to the larger fabric of society that binds us as well as to the politics of sex and love in our personal relationships.
Notable works include the UK debut of Maria Hassabi’s STAGING: Solo #2, a durational performance at The Store X; new commissions by Last Yearz Interesting Negro/Jamila Johnson-Small, in partnership with Gaia Art Foundation, Gery Georgieva, supported by Outset Contemporary Art Fund; and ROUTINE, a project created by art collective They Are Here, which addresses issues related to precarious labour and the gig economy—a theme already touched upon in their earlier works developed at Tate Modern in 2017.
The full programme outlined below. Further information and biographies of all the artists taking part can be found here: www.blockuniverse.co.uk.
Thursday, May 24
7pm: Artist talk: Maria Hassabi with Tate Curator Catherine Wood at The Store X, 180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA
Saturday, May 26
11am–7pm: Live installation: Maria Hassabi, STAGING: Solo #2 at The Store X, 180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA *UK premiere commissioned in partnership with The Store X
2:30–5pm: The Simpsons Symposium organised by They Are Here at Studio Voltaire, 1A Nelsons Row, Clapham, London SW4 7JR
7pm: Nora Turato, leaning is the new sitting at Old Operating Theatre, 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY *UK premiere
Sunday, May 27
11am–7pm live instalation: Maria Hassabi, STAGING: Solo #2 at The Store X, 180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA
9pm: Last Yearz Interesting Negro/Jamila Johnson-Small, FuryZ at Reliance Square, 29 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EY *New commission in partnership with Gaia Art Foundation
Monday, May 28
2–4pm: STAGING: A Movement Workshop with Maria Hassabi at Siobhan Davies Dance, 85 St George’s Rd, London SE1 6ER
7pm: Gery Georgieva, (At The Source) at Oval Space, 29-32 The Oval, London E2 9DT, UK *New commission in partnership with Outset Contemporary Art Fund
Tuesday, May 29
7pm: Evan Ifekoya & Victoria Sin, No Fantasy without Desire, No Destiny without a Daddy at The Brunel Museum, Thames Tunnel, Railway Avenue Rotherhithe London, SE16 4LF *New commission
Wednesday, May 20
7:30–8:30am: The Morning After Breakfast Club at People’s Choice Cafe, 38 Goswell Rd, Golden Lane Estate, London EC1M 7AA
8pm: Hanne Lippard, Reading at Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Rooms, Strand, London WC2R 1LA, entrance from Lancaster Place *New commission in partnership with Somerset House Studios
Thursday, May 31
1pm: Artist talk: Hanne Lippard with Spike Island Curator Vanessa Boni at Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Rooms, Strand, London WC2R 1LA, entrance from Lancaster Place
5–9pm durational: Giselle Stanborough, Lozein: Find The Lover You Deserve at Senate Room, Senate House, University of London, Malet St, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HU *UK premiere
Friday, June 1
8:30–9:30am: The Morning After Breakfast Club at People’s Choice Cafe 38 Goswell Rd, Golden Lane Estate, London EC1M 7AA
4–8pm durational: Laura Wilson, You would almost expect to find it warm at British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG *New site-specific commission in partnership with Franck Bordese
Saturday, June 2
3–4pm: Alex Mirutziu, Doing Sub Thinking at Annenberg Courtyard, Royal Academy of the Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0BD *New commission in partnership with Delfina Foundation and European Art East Foundation
4:30–6pm: Exhibition tour with Alex Mirutziu at Delfina Foundation, 29/31 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DY
8:30pm: They Are Here, ROUTINE at Studio Voltaire, 1A Nelsons Row, Clapham, London SW4 7JR *New commission in association with Studio Voltaire
Sunday, June 3
2–5pm: HOTLINE hosted by Jamila Johnson-Small and Sara Sassanelli *Location to be announced
8:30pm: They Are Here, ROUTINE at Studio Voltaire, 1A Nelsons Row, Clapham, London SW4 7JR
For further information and images:
Camille Regli at Pickles PR
T +44 (0)78 352 237 292 / camille [at] picklespr.com
Or contact Block Universe directly at info [at] blockuniverse.co.uk
