TAG London
Contemporary African Art through a Different Lens
In the past decade, contemporary African art has moved from the margins to the global stage, with London’s 1:54 art fair playing a pivotal role in that shift. From the hyperreal portraits of Nigeria’s Ayogu Kingsley to the mystical, myth-infused visions of Brazil’s Gustavo Nazareno, and the deeply personal, multidisciplinary work of Moses Quiquine, artists from Africa and the diaspora are redefining what global contemporary art looks like. Once dismissed by critics like the late Brian Sewell, Black art now commands centre stage, with even institutions like Tate Modern celebrating its brilliance. This is a new era—bold, spiritual, unapologetically complex—and, above all, undeniable.
A Cinematic Odyssey
The Odyssey Chinese Cinema Season 2023 offers a bold and diverse selection of films that challenge stereotypes and spotlight the emotional and cultural richness of contemporary Chinese filmmaking. From courtroom dramas to queer love stories and unconventional personal journeys, the festival reveals a cinematic landscape as complex and compelling as the country itself.
Kurios
Step into the steampunk dreamscape of Kurios, Cirque du Soleil’s spectacular return to London’s Royal Albert Hall. With gravity-defying acts, whimsical storytelling, and theatrical magic, this show reminds us why Cirque remains unmatched in the world of live performance.
THE LIFE OF PI
The play, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, engagingly tackles the themes of religion, faith and truth, making us question the value of reality and facts.
BFI London Film Festival
From political thrillers to poetic noirs, this year’s BFI London Film Festival offered a powerful selection of international cinema. With standout films like Till, 1976, Subtraction, and Decision to Leave, the festival proved once again that film is a vital lens through which we examine history, identity, and the human condition.
African Fashion
V&A – London | The curators have gone to great lengths to make sure the show spans the entire continent with pieces displayed from Morocco to Ghana to South Africa, making it a truly pan African showcase.
In the Black Fantastic
Hayward Gallery: in the Black Fantastic | How as an artist do you make sense of a world in which at times you are made to feel invisible? That has been an ongoing challenge for black artists throughout the African diaspora.
Shubbak 2021 – A Journey Through the Arab World
The Shubbak Festival in London, a biannual arts festival which highlights the work of artists from throughout the region seeks to challenge misconception aobut the Middle East.