| A celebration of contemporary Black art and culture at the Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre's summer season is in full swing, and — trust us — you do not want to sleep on this extraordinary programme of events, which spans live music, outdoor art, literature, poetry and performance. Welcome to Summer: In The Black Fantastic.
This is your chance to dive into new ideas and expressions of Black art and pop culture. The whole thing's inspired by themes of the Hayward Gallery's critically-acclaimed new exhibition, In The Black Fantastic — the first major show of its kind in the UK dedicated to Black artists who use fantastical elements to address racial injustice and explore alternate realities.
On top of this thrilling show (The Observer and Evening Standard both gave it ★★★★★), there's a free outdoor art exhibition showcasing artists who use fantasy in their work, including Hew Locke, Wangechi Mutu and Lina Iris Viktor. Grab a drink or a bite from one of Southbank Centre's lovely summer pop-ups and check it out, then head to one of the below highlights for more thought-provoking, fantastical, and Afrofuturist goodness. |
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| Music Meets Storytelling Southbank Centre's eclectic music programme features a couple of unmissable collabs. On 30 and 31 July, futuristic dub techno duo Space Afrika performs a new score to live readings that explore the Black experience through a fantastical lens, selected by legendary editor Ellah P Wakatama. Then, on 27 August, soulful singer-songwriter Tawiah (pictured left) unveils Ertha, her new concept album created with artist Al Moore. |
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| From Pink Siifu To Punk Poetry Other musical highlights include Alabama's Pink Siifu, who showcases his genre-defying stylings with support from Goya Gambani and muva of Earth on 6 August. There's also a gig from London-based rapper, producer and rising star John Glacier (pictured right) to look forward to. Discover the punk-poet's electronic soundscapes on 3 September.
Image © Jessica Eliza Ross for Off The Block Magazine |
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| Free Riverside Revelry Free DJ sets, dance parties, and even more live music — it's all happening on the al fresco Riverside Stage! The summer line-up includes artist Nwando Ebizie (22-24 July), progressive performance group The Cocoa Butter Club (pictured left, 29-30 July), Faggamuffin Bloc Party (6 August), and Afrofuturist space church Brownton Abbey (12-14 August). |
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| And So Much More! The above is just a taste of what to expect from Summer: In The Black Fantastic. Across the Southbank Centre's various venues, there are also talks, film screenings, dance performances, alien life-drawing, and even a voguing workshop. Click the blue-button to plan your visit. Hurry — the season has already started and must end on 18 September!
Image © Cripping The Arts |
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