55CULTURES

OPERA GALLERY: AMERICAN ICONS KEITH HARING

Renowned artist and activist Keith Haring is at the forefront of this iconic exhibition alongside his close friends and fellow artists such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, collaborated to shock and amaze people all over the world with their accessible yet hard-hitting subjects and animated colourful artworks that explored the political chaos of this era.

SOME PIECES OF MIND: BERTRAND FOURNIER

Delphian Gallery
We struck up a friendship, and have been chatting ever since. We first asked Bertrand to show with us around a year ago and we planned for a solo exhibition, his first solo in the UK. He showed us pieces that he was working on over a period of time and we then decided on the selection that will be exhibited this week.

MAKING HISTORY: UK'S FIRST ASIAN WOMAN FESTIVAL

We at 55 always welcome and celebrate diversity and female empowerment. Negating any form of oppression is a core value to our stream of publications. There has never been a greater time for women to find their voices, share experiences and come together to educate and liberate each other.

Now is the time for bridging the gaps in our understanding of how to merge deep-rooted traditions with being a modern woman.

DON McCULLIN: Retrospective TATE Britain

Tate Britain major retrospective of the legendary British photographer Sir Don McCullin. Renowned as one of Britain’s greatest living photographers, McCullin has captured images of conflict from around the world including Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Lebanon and Biafra. Often taken at great personal risk, these unforgettable photographs will be shown alongside McCullin’s work in documentary photography, his travel assignments and his long term engagement with landscape and still life.

Pablo Picasso: Between Cubism and Classicism

Over 100 years ago Pablo Picasso journeyed to Italy for a few extraordinary weeks in Rome and Naples with Jean Cocteau, Igor Stravinsky and the company of Sergei Djagilev’s Ballet Russes.

This trip, so important to the development of Picasso’s art during the post-war years, is the focus of a new, fully illustrated catalogue now out from Skira Editore.

Hanoi : After The War

A touching portrait of Vietnam after the war, experienced through the eyes of a foreign observer and the voices of Vietnamese writers.

Hanoi. After the War is a story of hardship, poverty and endurance, but also of an ancient culture, of a brave and resilient people, of beauty amidst austerity.

Bahrain Art Week London: Legacy and Memory

Accumulation: Legacy and Memory will bring a selection of contemporary and modern art from Bahrain to London for the third edition of Bahrain Art Week in London. Showcasing and celebrating Bahrain’s rich history as one of the oldest contemporary cultures in the Middle East,Bahrain Art Week will provide a platform for Bahraini artists to expand their international influence through London’s dynamic art scene, prior to Art Bahrain Across Borders 2019 fair.

NORMAN SEEFF: SESSIONS IN SOUND

Proud Galleries is pleased to announce Sessions in Sound: Photographs by Norman Seeff, anintimate collection of Seeff’s acclaimed photographic sessions featuring influential 20th Century musical icons. From Johnny Cash and Patti Smith to Joni Mitchell and the Rolling Stones, Norman Seeff’s perceptive lens captures thought-provoking images of iconic artists session after session.

Christina Reihill: Glad I Did It

Ruth Ellis’ execution on 13th July 1955 was a turning point in the death penalty debate in the UK. Ellis unapologetically declared her intent was to kill her lover, who she shot five times at point-blank range. In court she infamously stated:

“It’s very obvious that when I shot David Blakely I intended to kill him”

Christina Reihill will recreate the prison cell of Ruth Ellis, the last woman in Britain to be executed by the state, after she shot her abusive lover, 25-year-old racing driver David Blakely in 1955.

CLEMENTINES AREN'T JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

Miss Piggy might be in the prime of her life at (aherm), 40 something, but the newest puppet Queen on the block has come to ruffle her feathers! Slightly younger (although it’s rude to mention how much) Clementine the Living Fashion Doll, is 15 inches of pure fabulousness and Hollywood glamour of the old school variety.

Part Joan Rivers, part Barbie, she is blonde and beautiful, with a face that vaguely resembles Samantha from Sex and the City, but actually belongs to creator Mark Mander, who takes on the role of Clementine the sassiest fashion doll you are ever likely to meet!

US OR CHAOS: Citizens Subjugated by the State

“Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine.”Henry David Thoreau (1849)

US OR CHAOS looks at citizens subjugated by the state. It exposes the repressive measures used to degrade and dehumanise agitators, who reject the rule of law through individual acts of resistance and extreme self-sacrifice.
These moments of disobedience become political instruments, exposing the covert apparatus of power. Positioned side-by-side, they warn of chaos – a new radical system rising from beneath.

Women in the Himalayas Photography Show

Following on from the successful exhibition focussing on transgender and slum communities and jail-inmates in India, the latest venture from the Kitab collective aims to break boundaries of Indian women who are living in the mountains.

Started in March, 2017, ‘The Kitab’ is a non-profit initiative, based in India. Passionate about bringing experimental photography and innovative bookmaking practices to new audiences around the country, and remove the elitist connection with traditional art.

BEST-SELF: FINDING YOUR BALANCE

Are you ready to take your recovery to the optimum level and become the healthiest,
fittest and BEST badass version of yourself?
Have you been struggling with addiction transference in the form of food?

Nutritionist Therapist Emma Rice begins a journey for those willing to change, where you will receive advice and guidance in a wellness workshop followed by a Q&A presented by Qualified Nutritional Therapist Emma Rice DipNT

SUNDRIED: Working Towards a Healthy Planet

When most people think of coffee, they think of the drink that wakes them up in the morning and of deep-flavoured dark roasts. But coffee has a new meaning thanks to a rise in ethical fashion. Sundried are leading the industry with innovative designs and this starts with our sportswear made from recycled coffee grounds.

More and more people are waking up to the realisation that ‘fast fashion’ is causing irreparable damage to the planet and that something needs to be done before it’s too late.

HARRY DEAN STANTON'S LAST MOVIE "LUCKY"

If you have the nickname Lucky, you might think you have a blessed life; However there is nothing that marks our star of the show, Harry Dean Stanton as having experienced anything remarkable in his 90 years. We join him, in his long johns, as he pants and wheezes through the closing chapter of his life.

Playing an old man living out his last days, as an old man living out his last days (Stanton died shortly after this film wrapped) makes the movie much more poignant.

THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST

A film about a Christian boot camp in deep America might not sound like a barrel of laughs; But this tender and humane story of lesbian teenager Cameron Post, who was shipped off to God’s Promise, a remote gay conversion therapy centre in the middle of nowhere, is something that will make you think.

EVERYONE NEEDS GOOD NEIGHBOURS..FILM REVIEW

A family drama with added darkness, Under the Tree is a real-time, black comedy, opening with no-frills Ikea-range, run of the mill situation. But as the plot thickens, so does the hysteria. Written and directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar, the movie gives an Icelandic interpretation of a Nordic family farce!

INDONESIA TAKES OVER LONDON

It's nearly time for the annual Indonesian Weekend to hit London, and if you've never been you need to get the date in your diary.

September 8th and 9th is when Potters Field Park, next to Tower Bridge is transformed into a mini slice of this beautiful SE Asian country, with a vibrant festival showcasing food, drinks, culture, performance and fashion.

Check out the replica Balinese beach, traditional stage performances and prizes including flight and hotel giveaways, along with cooking demonstrations, fashion shows and DJs.

RAGAS IN THE GARDEN

Our Editor-In-Chief Christopher Sims is off to India for 2 weeks on a work trip so we thought we would all get into the mood with a beautiful Indian classical music concert this Sunday.

With the forecasted hot weather, it is the perfect time to experience magical music in the beautiful surroundings of Belgrave Hall and Gardens, Leicester.

Sip on a hot cup of chai on a warm summer’s evening and immerse yourself in ‘ragas’ and rhythms. Bring along your picnic blanket and unwind. Sitar Music Society brings us this event in association with Leicester City Council, An Indian Summer and festival sponsor Sony TV.

DRAGON KING'S DAUGHTER BY RUTH PHYPERS

Following a successful career in brand communications, Ruth Phypers now works as a holistic healer, devoted Buddhist and yoga practitioner, and that is how I happened to meet her, without realising anything of her past.

Working on me using Low Laser Light Therapy to target my fine lines and wrinkles, we formed a bond, and I was intrigued when she shyly offered me her first penned book to read.

A TASTE OF MEXICO IN KINGS CROSS

I love spicy food, and my heart did a teeny flip when I was invited to the first birthday party at Mestizo Market (adjacent to the established restaurant and tequila bar) on a busy main road near Euston….Little did I know that NW1 is hugely popular with our Hispanic cousins!
A multi-level Mexican restaurant, bar and marketplace, Mestizo Market is a slice of real Mexico, with a huge range of ingredients, sauces, crafts and artworks, shipped in directly from independent sellers and makers in Mexico, along traditional and cultural artefacts

THERE’S MORE TO DALI THAN SALVADOR

Even though he was a Catalan native, Salvador Dalí’s work is not highly regarded in the Spanish city of Barcelona; Not revered with the same affection as his contemporaries, Max Ernst, Picasso, Man Ray, Cecil Beaton or Brassaï, his work thus far, has not made any great impact on the city.

In fact there are no permanent works on show, and his presence to be taken seriously as an artist have long thought to be snubbed in favour of more serious artists. It didn’t help that he regularly visited (and befriended) Snowflake, an albino gorilla living in the Barcelona zoo... and was seen as a party animal who opposed the system.

DANCE LIKE NO ONES WATCHING AT HUNGAMA

Anew Bollywood/ Hip Hop club night ’HUNGAMA’ meaning ‘Chaos’ has been founded by Fashion and Art Curator Ryan Lanji. Realising that there was nowhere for LGBTQ+ Asians to enjoy the cultural music of their youth, he created a night in a safe space, where everyone could dance the night away with no inhibitions.

Being both South Asian and gay meant his loyalties were spread far and wide, so this venture merges the fabulousness of Bollywood, with great tunes where all sexualities and forms of expression are welcome and embraced.

L'AMANT DOUBLE: AN EROTIC AND SPICY THRILLER

A confusing, thrilling and arousing movie, ‘Double Lover’ is a gripping, psychological sex romp starring identical twins (or are they?) It is French after all! So ambiguity, and lots of nudity is guaranteed. And for anyone who gets excited by threesomes, be prepared to writhe in your seat!

Opening with a beautiful, slightly neurotic and seemingly sexually inhibited young woman Chloe (Marine Vacth), who is baring all to her doctor, *quite literally.

GOOD NEWS FOR MODERN MAN: DAVID LACHAPELLE

David LaChapelle goes solo in Groningen
If you need any convincing to pop over to the pretty city of Groningen in Holland, the David LaChapelle exhibition should sway you in the right direction. Not the most obvious place to showcase the photographer’s raunchy images (after all, he has a history photographing Beyonce, Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga), but this latest anthology returns to his artistic roots, and complement Groningen’s old town juxtaposed with modern buildings, which nestle on the canal in the north of the Netherlands.

BEAST: THE MOVIE

We all have a beast within; Whether we acknowledge it or not is a different kettle of fish, and Michael Pearce’s directorial debut, Beast plays upon this ambiguity with dangerous consequences.

A contemporary love story, the film is set on the sleepy island of Jersey, where everyone knows everyone’s business- or so it seems on the surface. However, dig a little deeper under this chocolate box town, and the locals are hiding a dark secret- a spate of young girls who have been raped and murdered, by the same suspect.

Beatrix Campbell: End of Equality

Among liberal thinkers, there is an optimistic belief that men and women are on a cultural journey toward equality - in the workplace, on the street, and in the home. But observation and evidence both tell us that in many ways this progress has stopped

Boris Johnson: A Categorical Liar

Evidence submitted by the British government in court today proves, beyond any doubt, that Boris Johnson has been point blank lying about the degree of certainty Porton Down scientists have about the Skripals being poisoned with a Russian “novichok” agent.

MODEL AGENT LINDEN STAUB ADOPTS FUR-FREE POLICY

Modelling and talent agency, Linden Staub is officially going fur-free, co-founders Esther Kinnear-Derungs and Tara Le Roux announced this morning.

The decision marks a major move, with Linden Staub being the first agency to join the conversation by stating they will not provide models for photo shoots and fashion shows where their signed models wear fur.

Every Day A Word Surprises Me

Every Day A Word Surprises Me & Other Quotes By Writers could be interpreted as potentially a prolonged witty publication, containing quotes of the ego and arrogance. But to my surprise I found a collection of over 700 insightful quotes by writers through the ages and from across the globe.

#SWINDLED: It's Not Too Late To Fix BREXIT

Whether you were Leave, or Remain or Undecided - we've all been swindled.
We've been sold false promises and unrealistic dreams.
You wouldn't accept being swindled at any other time, so why now?

Of A Type Developed By Liars

I have now received confirmation from a well placed FCO source that Porton Down scientists are not able to identify the nerve agent as being of Russian manufacture, and have been resentful of the pressure being placed on them to do so.

Tory Britain: Capital is God and People Can Burn.

David Cameron said in 2012 that his new year’s resolution was to “kill off the health and safety culture for good”.

Health and safety legislation has become an “albatross around the neck of British businesses”, he wailed costing them “billions of pounds a year”.

Culture Wars: Sexual Harassment. Will It Stop?

Let’s begin with bodies…we wake, we are ashamed and afraid; it feels awkward, creepie in a way, to be in our skin, we don’t belong to ourselves. Humans never do, of course, we belong to air and the soil, and if we are lucky we are held by love. But for some of us, sometimes day in day out, we are entombed in the memory of that man.

Radicalism Now!

It shouldn’t be necessary to have to say this, but I’ve got news for you! The Twentieth Century is over! The past is always with us, of course, framing our understanding of the world and its possibilities. We have been made by the past, and can learn much by studying its successes and failures, but that was then, and this is now. Time to face the present – and the future.

Ben Katzler: ‘CLASS’

'CLASS' by London-based photographer Ben Katzler is a series of candid images taken during one day at the Bigando School in Masindi, north western Uganda where he spent time working with the NGO, Redearth Education to document their work in primary schools.

David Brognon-Stephanie Rollin:Arts Reflection of Conflict

Working in mixed media and conceptual art, David Brognon and Stephanie Rollin are commenting on a world of conflict; Where territories in the land can be found mapped out as if scars and lacerations on human flesh.
Making extended video projects; they are as far away from Jeff Koons as imaginable. In film format, they are also harder to digest unlike a picture you would hang on a wall as decorative art.

Tyler Wetherall: No Way Home

Tyler Weatherall journey may be a unique one, but it is a journey that involves the family and coming of age, and this is the common ground we all share. A gripping read we can all find ourselves in.

POWERMASK: The POWER of Masks

Walter Van Beirendonck traces the history of masks. POWERMASK: The POWER of Masks illuminates the many different aspects of masks, from supernatural to rituals, fashion, and fetish, and their influence on artists like André Breton, Pablo Picasso and even Brueghel, as well as designers such as Martin Margiela and Thom Brown.

A FANTASTIC WOMAN IS TRULY INCREDIBLE

EXCITING, MYSTERIOUS, GRIPPING- JUST WHAT YOU WANT FROM A MOVIE!
A Fantastic Woman has it all....

If you’re looking for a feel good movie to give you faith in humanity, this might not be the movie for you. However if you love a gritty, emotional drama which exposes fragility and the fickleness of stereotypes, you will be glued.

Simon Hannah: A Party With Socialists In It

For over a hundred years, the British Labour Party has been a bastion for working class organisation and struggle. However, has it ever truly been on the side of the workers? Where do its interests really lie? And can we rely on it to provide a barrier against right-wing forces? By looking into its history, this book shines a light on the internal dynamics of the 'party with socialists in it'.

MENASHE: A YIDDISH FILM

A HEBREW FILM SET IN DOWNTOWN NEW YORK

If anyone would have said that I would have sat still for ninety minutes and watch a film in Yiddish, I would probably have had a chuckle and thought that they needed a drink! However, this somewhat unorthodox feat did happen, and I made it through to the closing credits of Joshua Z Weinstein's debut movie, with a tear in my eye.

BEACH RATS OR BEACH BABES?

OK I MIGHT BE BIASED, BUT BEACH RATS DOES CONTAIN SOME HOT BOYS!But it also highlights some 21st issues of coming to terms with your sexuality in a male-dominated world. Boys will be boys in front of other boys, but this film explores what actually turns the lead, Freddie on.

HAZEL HURLEY : THE FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER'S GAZE

PHOTOGRAPHS OF WOMEN

Hazel Hurley is more than a photographer- It is her intention to make images that challenge the view of the female form for her viewers, using a nostalgic yet contemporary context.

Richard Avedon and James Baldwin: Nothing Personal

This meticulous reprint of Richard Avedon and James Baldwin’s Nothing Personal explores the complexities and contradictions still at the center of the American experience – especially timely in the age of Donald Trump. Deploying both image and text, Avedon and Baldwin examine the formation of identity, and the bonds that both underlie and undermine human connection.

National Trust Winners: The Imminent Diorama

The National Trust, the Horniman Museum and Gardens, and Bompas & Parr have announced their winning entries for new interactive installation, ‘The Imminent Diorama’, which will allow the public to see one of London’s finest unprotected views of the city at the Horniman, as it appears now and as it could appear over the next eighty years.

Henry Miller Fine Art: Celebrate Male Form

Taking place at the Framers Gallery, Fitzrovia, from 4 to 16 December, Henry Miller Fine Art’s Winter Exhibition will showcase rare artworks focusing on the male form in art from the 17th Century to the present day.

Spanning several centuries and styles, including paintings, drawings, prints and photographs, the collection includes works by Keith Vaughan, Richard Hamilton, Paul Cadmus, Duncan Grant, Michael Leonard, Oliver Messel and Noel Coward, alongside 19th and 20th Century photographers Wilhelm von Gloeden, Guglielmo Pluschow, Arthur Tress and Emil Cadoo and academic studies from the 18th Century onwards.

Multilateral Investment Court: Utterly Flawed

The European Commission’s plans for a Multilateral Investment Court sanctions a biased and ineffective arbitration system, leaving people and the environment exposed to international investors’ whims, writes Fabian Flues.

Holiday BREXIT Britain

London, November 5, 2017: Just over half of the travel trade professionals quizzed in an industry survey say that Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK’s reputation as a holiday destination, according to research released tomorrow (Monday 6 November) at World Travel Market London – the leading global event for the travel industry.

DAVID WALKER: STREET ART OR ART?

Mostly known for his street murals in the UK, David Walker's last (sell out) show in the UK was in 2014, so it is with interest to see what he has been up to in the last three years.

Gideon Mende: Portraits of a 90s AIDS Ward

In in 1993 Gideon Mendel photographed the resident at London’s first AIDS ward The Broderip at Charles Bell ward, both in London’s Middlesex Hospital. These two wards were then among London’s very few AIDS wards at a time when the stigmatised illness quickly killed most of its sufferers for whom antiviral medication was not yet available.

Chen Yu: Faint-Hearted Childhood Memories

To accompany the collateral event at KIAF ART SEOUL 2017, Wellington Gallery presents the latest works by the Chinese artist Chen Yu (b. 1969). Through Chen's paintings, he offers spectators his vision tied with feelings of faint-hearted childhood memories, provides also a wider context of the central issues in the Chinese society.

END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN EXHIBITION

The first 'End Violence Against Women' (EVAW) exhibition is opening in London

The coalition was set up in 2005, to raise awareness and lobby the government with regards to the mistreatment and violence to women and girls, 2005, Campaigning at every level of government for better, more transparent approaches to ending and preventing violence against women and girls, the group also challenges the wider cultural attitudes that tolerate and condone abuse.

FAYE DOWLING'S LITTLE BLACK BOOK

THE BOOK OF BLACK

I am not somebody who would necessarily pick up a ‘book of black’ in a book store. Perhaps in my teen years when I was into The Cure and wearing purple lipstick and heavy eyeliner...but something in my later years has compelled me to have a look.

Marilyn Stafford: Stories in Pictures

Photo-journalist Marilyn Stafford was born in Cleveland Ohio, in 1925 and now lives in West Sussex.
Her photographic career began in New York in 1948 when she was asked to photograph Albert Einstein for friends who were making a documentary about him.

London - Manchester: Loud, Proud and Never to be Cowed

As an aside, I would like to remember and pay respect to those souls that needlessly lost their lives in the Westminster attack of Wednesday 22 March 2017 and the Manchester bombing on Monday the 22 May 2017. It's unfortunate that in doing so, I can’t help but recall the words of the vile Katie Hopkins and the re-tweet of the bilge by the equally detestable Nigel Farage.

55streets

Taking to the streets, 55 captures some of the identities roaming London's East this week end.
Street Style in London by Roy Hilton.

Theresa May: Decommissioning a Generation

This will be a defining fight, perhaps the biggest political battle since the Thatcher years. A fight against austerity affecting the many, while the conservatives protect the elites donors who finance them.
Tory wishes for further privatisation are what lie at the heart of this government. A rank opportunism that will return to selective rule, a government agenda that revolves around greed, power and holding no concern of the effects on the population in a capitalist & corporations first vision.

TERENCE SPENCER : PHOTOGRAPHIC LEGEND

If you know anything about documentary photography, you will know of the legend Terence Spencer. A survivor of WW2 (where he nearly died in an explosion and was a prisoner of war) it only made him more determined to live his life to the max. Choosing to continue to work in war zones after he left the army, his chosen career took him to Vietnam, the Middle East, and Cuba shortly after The Bay of Pigs uprising to photograph atrocities and events.

PINK FLOYD: Extremely Critical of Capitalism

Guaranteed to be a huge success. The Victoria and Albert Museum host this incredible exhibition documenting one of the worlds most successful band's, Pink Floyd.

Having sold over 200 million records, Pink Floyd are cemented in history, as well as in the emotions of generations past, precent and future.

Alexander Rodchenko: Art of the Times

Our fascination with the Russian art’s, especially photography and its illustrated photomontage from the communist area is endless.

With a host of galleries around the world specialising in this format; it leaves our desire to explore this still little known and emerging cultural gap in history ever more vivacious.

BREXIT: Everything You Never Wanted To Know..

Each day I peruse the front pages of the London press. From the biggest selling newspapers there is little that might be gleaned of the state of the world. It might be nuclear handbags at dawn for The Donald and L’il Kim (we’re all invited), but The Daily Mail is in a tizz over satnavs. In Brexitland, our fears are smaller.
Little England’s head-in-the sand world view once might have been irritating and comical in roughly equal measure. Not any more.

Augmenting the Invisible: Jakob + MacFarlane Paris

Presenting the first monographic exhibition of Jakob + MacFarlane in Germany. The multidisciplinary and multicultural architecture studio, founded by Dominique Jakob and Brendan MacFarlane in 1997, is one of the most experimental offices operating in Paris.

For the Love of London

Writing about a book that bigs up London, might be a little rich coming from someone who chooses not to live in the capital; But that is not because I don't like the city- it's because I refuse to pay someone else's mortgage for a shoebox!

At least by living in Brighton, I get a restricted sea view and only have to pay smelly Southern Rail an arm and a leg 2-3 times a week when I come up to play! But I digress....

Pictures of You: Ten Journeys in Time

If you had to pick a single image from every decade of the C20th and then use it to both sum up and tell the story of that decade, what photographs would you choose?
That was the task facing award winning historian and travel writer Rory Maclean

Fashions New Year Resolutions

Stop Ripping Off other cultures
Yes fashion can take influence, but let’s be honest, a lot of the time it takes peoples heritage and culture and treats them as a novelty or a fad. Is there any better demonstration of this than how the term “Tribal” has become synonymous with non-white.

America is Sick. But Can it Get Better?

The ill-fated and highly criticised US campaign from Hillary Clinton had the whole planet watching via social media. My social feeds have generally been taken up by ‘critical thinking’ regarding Hillary and Bill’s ZOMBIE marriage, and 40 years of dodgy dealing, at the same time, dry humping corporations. Much more so than any Trump dogma that filtered through, which consisted of general racist banter and female groping, what a creep!

The Museum Of Last PartiesNightclubs in London are closing down at an alarming rate. The creativity and Culture that once put London at the centre of the map is being sold off and thrown in the dustbin. The smoking ban is fully in place the fun ban is coming next.

The Millionaires Causing The Homeless CrisisFORMER prime minister Tony Blair once described the site of homeless people sleeping rough on Britain’s streets, on park benches and in church yards as one of the most dramatic symbols of social exclusion.
“It is a scandal,” he once said, “that on the eve of the 21st century there are still people sleeping rough on our streets.”

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