Arts & Culture
Originally published on Wednesday, 2nd September 2015
The Culturist: September
Aside from the usual September happenings (London Fashion Week and London Design Week), we’ve got a calendar full of cultural highlights. From checking out political and pop art exhibitions to drinking tiki cocktails and juleps and trying English-style tapas, September is, as always, packed. Enjoy!
SEE I: AI WEIWEI
September 19 - December 13, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, W1J 0BD
Artist and political dissident Ai Weiwei has finally been granted a passport – and he’s heading to London for his landmark exhibition at the Royal Academy. Although his talk has now sold out, wander the main galleries for a retrospective spanning two decades of his work. Expect everything from large-scale installations to pieces showcasing marble and steel, tea and glass.
DO I: HINDMARCH’S HIGHWAY
Open September 11 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB
Car parks are the new fashion hotspots. Apart from LFW being held in one, Anya Hindmarch is remodelling the Selfridges car park into her own ‘gas station’ – with London’s M25 motorway as the inspo. Apart from being able to shop the collection, there’ll also be a car wash themed photo booth and a kiosk selling everything from air fresheners and bumper stickers to snacks – just follow the roads signs.
DRINK: ORIOLE
Opens end of September, 4 London Wall, EC1A 9LH
Finally, Edmund and Rosie Weil of Nightjar are opening a second bar – but don’t expect them to rest on their laurels. Instead of opening a carbon-copy speakeasy, the Smithfield outpost will be bigger (120 covers), serve weekend brunch and be “colonial tiki” themed. As for the cocktails, we’re told to expect flavours from Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. It’s tiki time, people.
September 23 - November 24 Various locations
Opens 14 August Rooms from £258 28-30 Seymour Street W1H 7JB
Now, let’s talk about sax. The newly opened but already much loved jazz bar, Kansas Smitty’s, is taking its weekly in-house event, Basement Tapes, on tour. Celebrating the release of their debut album, the house band will be doing their sour mash of jazz genres every Tuesday in some of London’s best subterranean cocktail bars, including Oriole. And they’re taking their juleps with them, asking each bar to make their own versions of the southern libation.
BUY: YAZBUKEY BY LINDA FARROW GALLERY
Available in store and online, £180
Just when we had stopped lusting after the lips, our eyes have found another pair to well, eye up.
EAT: POCO
Opens September 7, 129A Prichards Road, E2 9AP
After four successful years in Bristol, it’s now London’s turn to go loco over Poco, the tapas restaurant by Tom Hunt, author of The Natural Cook. Expect courgette fritters topped with soured raw cream and deep-fried oysters with kelp aioli among the menu of dishes, all done using seasonal and local British ingredients. English tapas… we’re intrigued.
DO III: RED BULL STUDIOS FUTURE UNDERGROUND
September 9,10,11
If you missed Skepta’s last-minute gig a couple of months ago, listen up: Red Bull is once again set to take over the capital. Think three nights, three parties with only 24 hours notice. Tickets to gigs will be released via their social channels so start following now. For more information click here.
SEE II: THE WORLD GOES POP
September 17 – January 24, Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Moving past Warhol soup cans and Lichtenstein comic strips, the Tate is set to deliver a new take on pop art with its latest exhibition, The World Goes Pop. Visit to see the story of the art movement told from a global perspective, from Latin America to Asia, and from Europe to the Middle East, and how each responded to the era of ad men, consumer culture and Monroe.
