On 7 July, as the sun starts to set, the Thames riverbank, between South Bank and Battersea Power Station, via Vauxhall and Nine Elms, will come alive with art, as cultural institutions and renowned London landmarks fling open their doors for London's largest one-night free contemporary arts festival.
Lara Favaretto, I poveri sono matti (The poor are mad), 2005–18
Artist Curated Projects
The recently reopened Hayward Gallery has commissioned twelve new artist projects for the 2018 Art Night Trail. Each festival project on display has been created by a different international contemporary artist. Highlights of the commissioned projects include Italian conceptual artist Lara Favaretto's installation I poveri sono matti (above).
On display in Nine Elms, this installation is made up of a gypsy caravan suspended from a crane, emitting a recording of the popular World War II-era polka, Rosamunde. The work forms part of Favaretto's continuing exploration of Gypsy culture and identity through art. The artist plans to destroy the installation following the exhibition, so this is your last chance to catch it before it goes.
Elsewhere, pioneering video artist Yuan Goang-Ming (below) showcases Dwelling, in which a comfortably furnished living room explodes in slow motion. The film aims to challenge generally accepted concepts of 'home' and 'ruins', and, as with much of his work, explores a scenario in which the unthinkable encroaches on the mundane. Dwelling will be projected outdoors at the Hayward Gallery during the one-night festival.
Yuan Goang-Ming, Dwelling-Moment II, 2014. Courtesy the artist
Further exhibitors include artist and activist Liv Wynter, who recently resigned from Tate as its artist in residence. Wynter fuses politics and art in her series of live political performances at the Garden Museum, combining poetry, music, dance and rap to explore gender, class, and activism. Suzanne Treister has also been commissioned by Art Night and Battersea Power Station to transform the hoardings around the BPS site for Art Night 2018.
Art Night Trail 2018
Presented alongside these projects are a wealth of outdoor art installations, temporary exhibitions and gallery shows, curated by local curators, artists and cultural institutions. The Art Night Open programme 2018 is loosely inspired by this year's curatorial theme, which focuses on the local environment, importance of urban produce and the rich history of gardening, whilst also exploring philosophical questions about the political and emotional connotations of ‘home’, including residency, refuge and security.
Halil Altindere, Space Refugee, ... and Pilot Gallery, Istanbul
Logistics
A group of Art Night Guides will be at the ready to offer assistance as you navigate your way between all the art on display, with the Thames Clipper ferrying visitors to and from exhibits until 4am.
Art, design, music, drink and dance: this soirée will be quite an affair – and, what's more, it's completely free.
Please click here for a comprehensive programme of events and more information
| What | Art Night London, 2018 |
| Where | Various Locations | MAP |
| When |
On 07 Jul 18, 6:00 PM – 6:00 AM |
| Price | £free |
| Website | Click here for more information |
