International Women’s Day 2024 – The World We Live In
Shoreditch Arts Club had the pleasure of putting together a week-long programme of events leading up to International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, with the help of new and long-time collaborators spanning across film, fashion and art sectors.
Starting strong, our cinema partners Girls in Film kicked off the week with their monthly curated screening, this time consisting of ten ‘Otherworldly’ themed short films curated by Hannah Cope including Hot and Tasty by Laura Jayne, Grass by Guilia Mucci, The Dream That Refused Me by Jabu Nadia Newman, A Cure for All Things by Katherine Chou, Neither Seen Nor Heard by Florence Kosky, Intergalactic Love Story by Zohar Dvir, Three Women Arrive by Marie Schuller, Paired Flowers by Hannah Bon, To The Girl That Looks Like Me by Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, and All Up There by Bonnie Macrae. Guests enjoyed a complimentary welcome drink, as well as a Q&A with Never Seen Nor Heard writer Jessamine Bell following the screening.
Wednesday the 6th of March saw the launch of the fashion installation pop-up organised by the Ukrainian Fashion Department, a platform directly supporting Ukrainian designers and bespoke businesses. Formed by Kateryna Platunova, a Ukrainian lawyer who fled from the war in Ukraine and moved to the UK, UFD supports local businesses back in her homeland and ensures brands in the sector are still able to thrive.
Rails of exquisite clothing lined the walls around the space, while intricate pieces like jewellery and fine accessories, and Ukrainian perfumery brands laid atop aluminium tables by Shoreditch-based bespoke furniture designer Six Dots. Each brand had expert representatives present, to provide personalised guidance to shoppers.
The exclusive opening evening of the UFD pop-up saw exquisitely attired guests and members from the fashion industry who browsed the unique collections while admiring the resilience of these designers. Many of the attending guests were visiting our versatile venue for the first time. Soundtracked by a live DJ set, the buzzing reception was a success, leaving those who attended an optimism in the strength of unity.
Ukrainian Fashion Department Pop-Up at Shoreditch Arts Club, photographed by Nataliia Tomash
Photo (from left to right): Chila Burman, Malgosia Stepnik, Ellery Weil, Rebecca Moss, Alexis Zelda Stevens at The Power of Her panel at Shoreditch Arts Club
As the 8th of March came around, the club geared up to celebrate International Women’s Day with a much anticipated evening of screening and a panel titledThe Power of Her, featuring renowned multi-disciplinary artists Chila Burman, Malgosia Stepnik, Rebecca Moss and Alexis Zelda Stevens, curated by Alexa Muen on behalf of Not For Sale Gallery.
The evening showcased the artists’ video works across our multi-projector screens setup, including Rebecca Moss’s Thick Skinned, Chila Burman’s Punjabi Princess, Alexis Zelda Stevens’ Social Experiments and Malgosia Stepnik’s City of Angels.
With physical works by Burman and Stepnik recently installed at the club, Shotokan Self-Portrait Kick and The World We Live In, we were thrilled to welcome the artists themselves to the club for the special occasion. Shotokan Self-Portrait Kick is the artist’s response to violence against women, and the conditions of women’s safety in modern society. Stepnik’s work The World We Live In is a mesmerising depiction of connection – a piece that took over a year to complete, portraying the schism within the human condition, the need for growth as well as destruction, and the transcendent power of hope.
The World We Live In, 2018, Malgosia Stepnik. Photographed by Beth Davis
Burman was recently announced as one of the shortlisted artists to display her work for the Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square, and we were honoured to install her work Bow & Arrow in the club ahead of the panel discussion, which now illuminates the reception lobby.
The four artists spoke on their experiences in the art world – which, although reports have shown the share of female artists represented by galleries has risen steadily over the last few years, still unravels a striking undervaluing of their work in the market. Burman, Stepnik, Moss and Stevens were transparent and vulnerable in sharing the struggles they’ve faced, equally informing the engaged audience of the uplifting progress they’ve seen through allyship and advocacy from peers in the industry.
As the week came to a close the space felt radiant with inspiration. A big thank you to all the support from the collaborators and organisers to whom the team shows their immense gratitude.
