UP Projects worked in collaboration with London Gallery Weekend to present a programme of artist-led performances taking place during London Gallery Weekend 2023 (2 - 4 June). The performance programme offered an unparalleled opportunity for members of the public to freely experience site-specific performance artworks by some of the most exciting artists working today.
The three artists selected to perform were Nicole Bachmann, Li Hei Di and Minh Lan Tran. Each performance was staged three times across the weekend: on Friday 2 June in Central London, on Saturday 3 June in South London and on Sunday 4 June in East London. London Gallery Weekend and UP Projects also worked closely with arts organisation, Peckham Platform who developed a special performance for the Saturday working closely with Southwark-based communities and artist, Lesley Asare.
Locations & Timings
2 June 2023 - 2.30PM – 3.45PM,
St James's Church Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL | Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus and Green Park
- The Willow Tree by Li Hei Di
- not a centre, but a mesh by Nicole Bachmann
- Heat Generation (prayer) by Minh Lan Tran
The afternoon was moderated by Rose Lejeune, Independent Curator & Founder, Performance Exchange
3 June 2023 - 12PM – 2.30PM,
Peckham Library Square, London SE15 5JT | Nearest Overground / Rail: Peckham Rye Station
- The Willow Tree by Li Hei Di
- not a centre, but a mesh by Nicole Bachmann
- Heat Generation (prayer) by Minh Lan Tran
- Body Arcana (“Home-building”) by Lesley Asare + in conversation with Nephertiti Schandorf, Director, Peckham Platform
The afternoon was moderated by Nephertiti Schandorf, Artistic Director, Peckham Platform
4 June 2023 - 12PM – 2PM,
Hoxton Square, London, N1 6NU | Nearest Underground: Old Street
- The Willow Tree by Li Hei Di
- not a centre, but a mesh by Nicole Bachmann
- Heat Generation (prayer) by Minh Lan Tran
- Artist Panel Discussion with Li Hei Di, Nicole Bachmann and Minh Lan Tran moderated by Bengi Ünsal, Director ICA
The afternoon was moderated by Bengi Ünsal, Director ICA
About the Performances
Not a centre, but a mesh – Nicole Bachmann
Not a centre, but a mesh is a spoken word performance written, produced, and performed by Nicole Bachmann. It explores orality as a tool to pass on knowledge and create meaning, where the voice is the main carrier of information. Bachmann speaks about loss in the face of environmental destruction, social injustices and how we engage in new ways of being together, forming communities and networks to cherish and honour our dependencies of each other.
The Willow Tree – Li Hei Di
For The Willow Tree Li Hei Di was joined by three other performers: Qinging Liu, Erin Alles and Juicy Wang, all of whom wear custom-made funnels as hats, replete with many thin, transparent tubes that snake down from their heads and wrap around their bodies. Clad in these costumes, the performers move across stacks of rice paper with dry pigments hidden in between the layers. Liquid is funnelled into the hats, either poured by another of the performers or by placing water bags on the top and pricking them open with a long needle. As water travels through the funnel and into the tubes, it squirts in different directions, mixing with the pigments on the paper to create a self-determining composition.
Heat Generation (prayer) – Minh Lan Tran
The performance was a collaboration between Minh Lan Tran and the choreographer Lena Hetzel. What happened was the encounter of people, dancers, and fighters, taking part in the event as living archives. The choreography was built on the performers’ response to the idea of violence, its infliction and interiorization as well as its transformation. The choreography was built on the performers’ response to the tension and resistance between violence and grace.
Body Arcana (“Home-building”) – Lesley Asare
Body Arcana (“Home-building”) is a performance by Lesley Asare in collaboration with sound artist, Drew Sinclair and developed together with young people from the South London Refugee Association. The piece explores the slow and sacred practices we keep within our homes to nourish, adorn and heal ourselves and questions how we can collectively slow down to restore the earth. In preparation for this performance, Lesley collaborated with young people from the South London Refugee Association through a series of workshops in which they explored the sense of self and home to not only inform the development of the performance but to also create garments in which they dyed, mended and infused with intentions for the future.
Meet the Artists
Selection Process
This year, galleries were invited to submit proposals for artists who would benefit from this performance programme opportunity. The three artists were selected by a panel of industry experts comprising of Zoé Whitley (Director, Chisenhale), Bengi Ünsal (Director, Institute of Contemporary Arts), Jo Baxendale (Senior Policy Officer - Visual Arts and Public Realm, Greater London Authority), Rose Lejeune (Founding Director, Performance Exchange), Nephertiti Schandorf (Artistic Director, Peckham Platform), Emma Underhill (Founder & Artistic Director, UP Projects) and Moira Lascelles (Executive Director & Head of Partnerships, UP Projects).
Nicole Bachmann was nominated by Vitrine Gallery
Li Hei Di was nominated by Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
Minh Lan Tran was nominated by Harlesden High Street Gallery
About London Gallery Weekend
London Gallery Weekend is the world’s largest event of its kind and unique among global gallery weekend events in the breadth and diversity of its participating galleries. The event takes place over three days, each focusing on a different area of London. Free for all to attend, it provides an opportunity to discover and explore London’s world-class gallery scene, celebrating the city’s diverse cultural and creative communities. An extensive programme scheduled by galleries specially for the weekend includes talks, family workshops and special events, with extended opening hours. Londongalleryweekend.art
Funders & Supporters
We would like to thank Southwark Council, Hackney Council and St James's Church Piccadilly.
Body Arcana (“Home-building”) has been made possible with support from Art Fund and the London Borough of Southwark’s Cultural Celebrations Fund.
