The Unexpected Will Continue In Part 2.

On 26th January 2023, Shoreditch Arts Club ambitiously hosted over 200 guests at a pre-opening event, a taster of what’s to come, exhibiting over 20 artworks, screening seven films, and enjoying numerous canapés, and flowing English sparkling wine , wrongly described as “the best champagne I’ve ever had”.

Our newly painted lintel photographed by Alfie White.

As an introduction to the club, we collaborated with Daata and Girls in Film to showcase over 25 artist videos and films for our four screens and cinema.

Our kitchen was active for the first time offering several bite sized canapés including a tomato tart with spiced aubergine, pomegranate and mint, the sparkling wine was flowing thanks to the local vineyard Nyetimber, and the seasonal forced rhubarb negroni that matched the carpets was a hit at the bar.

Our collaborators Daata co-curated a selection of artist videos from their incredible library of commissioned works. The result was 16 artworks by Petra Cortright, Florian Meisenberg, Sara Ludy, Artie Vierkant, Rebecca Allen, and Rosie Gibbens which cycled to soundtracks by MDJ of We Theory, and Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura of NTS.

The guests were just as impressive. We were humbled by the positive turnout, with directors of numerous East London galleries enjoying drinks alongside esteemed artists, magazine editors and existing artists and collaborators including Nina Cristante, Peter Spanjer, and Joey Holder.

During the evening there was a preview of Peter Spanjer’s forthcoming moving image commission FLOOD OF MEMORY co-curated by Ruth Waters and Tony Tremlett, alongside unique video works, made especially for our multi-projector setup, including Victor Nwankwo, M.D.’s C19 Studies and Christian Kingo’s DIAL (1-4-1).

It was also the first time for past and future collaborators, and founding members, were able to see permanent installations, acquisitions and loaned and commissioned artworks by Lee Cameron, Matilde Cerruti Quara, Nina Cristante, Ed Fornieles, Joey Holder, Oliver Laric, Louis Morlæ, Hannah Perry, and Christine Sun Kim.

Announcing the beginning of our partnership with Girls in Film, seven films were screened in our Cinema, Logging Out Of Reality directed by Sylvia Xinyue Zhang, Lost Carnival directed by Marcella Dahl, Fardosa directed by Rukia Mahamed, Iqlaas Osman, and Anton Tammi, Multiples directed by Flaminguettes, Love directed by Reka Bucsi, City of Lost Souls directed by Rosa von Praunheim and Birthright directed by Jade O’Belle.

And last, but certainly not least, the star of the night was Matilde Cerruti Quara’s temporary installation Intergalactic Intimacy (Part 1) which transformed our bathrooms into a bluelight disco club as intimate reflection space with visual and audible poetry, mirrored doors, a galaxy projection and a disco ball… the unexpected will continue in Part 2.

Blast off?

Guests enjoying sparking wine in front of work by Rosie Gibbens.

Matilde Cerruti Quara photographed by Alfie White in her installation Intergalactic Intimacy (Part 1).