Natasha Law
I’ve just finished putting together work for a show at Eleven Fine Art - ‘My Flash On You’ was a chance to collate pieces that had been brewing through lockdown and in the period since then. Sitting back and looking at them as a whole, I can spot where my colour choices have been hugely influenced by that period and all the time I spent outside - either gardening or in walking and sitting in parks. I had to put a curb on my enthusiasm for greens and pinks. Currently I’m back in the studio dividing my time between working on new pieces destined for my next show in the US and a couple of commissioned pieces - which provides a nice mix of parameters. I’m also finding a lot of good excuses to head out and enjoy the sunshine. July to me still means The Summer - school holidays and, most importantly, my birthday. There are a few art exhibitions I’m heading out to - Waiting for the Barbarians at the Ubicua Gallery and the ‘Reframed’ exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery - which is nice and local and let’s me maybe add in an outdoor swim at brockwell lido too if the sun is still shining.
Natasha Law - English artist and graphic designer.
Restaurant: Mambow
From the 1st June until the 18th September you need to get yourselves over to the Tower of London to check out Superbloom. Mambow is a brand new Malaysian restaurant and wine bar that’s just opened at Market Stalls in Peckham (opposite Peckham Rye station where Forza wine is). You may recognise the name as Chef Abby Lee opened Mambow in Spitalfields just before we were plunged into the first lockdown, so this is her second attempt - Mambow number 2 as it were. With Malaysian cuisine as a basis, inspired by Lee’s childhood in Singapore and Malaysia, there are multiple other culinary influences from her global cheffing experience in the dishes on offer, including her Cordon Bleu training and her first restaurant job at the Michelin-starred Pashà Ristorante in Italy. Sumptuous options include Gulai Nangka - a mild yellow coconut curry with jackfruit topped with fried aromatics, Lor Bak - deep-fried five spice pork and prawn rolls in a bean curd skin and The M Wing - brined, and deep-fried chicken wing in an anchovy sambal and served with lime. Les Caves de Pyrene have come up with an all-natural wine list that'll be served along with Chang Beer and soft drinks. This isn’t just an evening spot either, locals can head there during the day for lighter bites such as a lunchtime-only Hainanese Chicken Sando. Tables are first come-first served with counter service, so to us Mambow makes the perfect relaxed date spot or pre drinks fuel up venue.
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Theatre: Jack Absolute Flies Again
Who went to see ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ at the National Theatre back in 2011? It was one of their most successful productions in recent years and Richard Bean, the man behind the script, is back again at the National Theatre but this time, with ‘Jack Absolute Flies Again’. Working with Oliver Chris, this story is a reworking of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s ‘The Rivals’. Set during and after the Battle of Britain, the title character serves his country by fighting in aerial dogfights, but his mission on land is to impress his old flame Lydia Languish. After fighting in World War Two, he’s up to any challenge. However, his moves are met with a hesitant Lydia, who wishes to be loved in her own ways. There’s misunderstandings aplenty and awkward confrontations for these lovers in this hilarious production that is not one to miss. The cast is directed by Emily Burns and led by Laurie Davidson as Jack Absolute, Caroline Quentin as Mrs Malaprop, Natalie Simpson as Lydia Languish, Kelvin Fletcher as Dudley Scunthorpe and Kerry Howard as Lucy.
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Art: In the Black Fantastic
In the Black Fantastic is a new exhibition at the Hayward Gallery of 11 contemporary artists from the African diaspora, who draw on science fiction, myth and Afrofuturism to question our knowledge of the world. Encompassing painting, photography, video, sculpture and mixed-media installations, the exhibition creates immersive aesthetic experiences that bring the viewer into a new environment somewhere between the real world and a multiplicity of imagined ones. Fantasy becomes a zone of creative and cultural liberation and a means of addressing racism and social injustice by conjuring new ways of being in the world. In the Black Fantastic is curated by Ekow Eshun and features the artists Nick Cave, Sedrick Chisom, Ellen Gallagher, Hew Locke, Wangechi Mutu, Rashaad Newsome, Chris Ofili, Tabita Rezaire, Cauleen Smith, Lina Iris Viktor and Kara Walker. Tickets are £13.50 (or free for members) and the exhibition runs until the 18th September at the Southbank Centre.
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Film: Screen on the Canal
Over at Kings Cross on the canal there is a free open air film festival on until the 7th August. Everyman Cinema presents Screen on the Canal which features blockbuster bangers, family favourites and cult classics. What better than to enjoy a warm London evening on the banks of the canal watching a movie with a drink in hand? Screenings include Dune, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Free Guy, West Side Story, Belfast, King Richard, Matilda, and Encanto Sing-a-Long for the kiddo’s (and adults actually). You can help to choose which film you would like to be screened every Thursday evening, as part of the King’s Cross Choice Poll. To get involved just complete the quick poll on the King’s Cross app. Films run throughout the day and every evening and the movies will be screened from the canalside steps on Granary Square. The comfortable staggered seating ensures everyone gets a full view of the screen but please note this is an un-ticketed event so arrive early to avoid disappointment! On top of all the movie magic you can also enjoy the tennis action from Wimbledon, catch up on the Tour de France and enjoy live music performances. The full programme can be found here.
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Event: West Norwood Feast
Head over to Norwood High Street on Sunday 3rd July for West Norwood Feast, a volunteer powered street market festival. This event takes place on the first Sunday of the month from April through to December and has been in existence since 2011. Over 5000 locals take to the streets to enjoy the event which is made up of four hubs: 1. Food Fair- Here you’ll find traders with a passion for food, and a regularly changing stall selection which brings cuisine from all corners of the globe to West Norwood. The coffee stall and bar are both run by popular local businesses, and many more of the traders are drawn from the wider local area. 2. Fresh and Green- this section has a variety of stalls with the emphasis on good quality fresh produce (meat, fruit & veg, cheese, olives, fish, bread) sourced from local producers where possible. They also feature pickles, preserves, plants and flowers. The aim is that people can now do a week’s shopping at Feast and from local shops. 3.Artisans’ Market- a buzz of creativity and excitement. Here you’ll find arty activities for children to do while you browse the wares on the artisans stalls; anything from handmade pottery, jewellery, T-shirts, toys, bags, candles and knick-knacks to stunning photography and art. Lastly, 4. The Village Green, a place to shop, eat, drink and play. Here you’ll find all things sustainable and community focused, spread around the open green outside the Leisure Centre. Shop for retro and handmade goods, beauty products, clothing and vintage curios. Chill out on the green while you eat your lunch from a Feast Food trader. Here you’ll also find activities for kids, from toddlers to adults still young at heart – with a roster of fun free crafts, board games, table tennis tables and a playground, there’s always a reason to settle in for a relaxing and community-focused Sunday up on the Village Green. Regular FEAST DJ Glen Falconer provides the soundtrack to a lovely day out.
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Children: Mandrakes and Magical Creatures
We adore the Warner Brothers Studio and all the Harry Potter magic that is housed within so we had to tell you about their latest set experience - Mandrakes and Magical Creatures. Brand new for 2022, Mandrakes and Magical Creatures shines a spotlight on how your favourite creature effects were brought to life on screen. On arrival you will be welcomed into the Great Hall to the Frog Choir scene as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, featuring the costume of conductor of the choir, Professor Flitwick, as worn by Warwick Davis. Keep an eye out for all the magical creatures as Cornish Pixies, Dumbledore’s beloved Fawkes and the animatronic Monster Book of Monsters can be spotted during your visit. You can learn how Thestrals and Mandrakes were brought to life using a mixture of scale models and CGI in the Creatures Workshop and also open the glass doors of Professor Sprout’s greenhouse for the very first time! Just like a Hogwarts student, you will be able to step into the greenhouse, home to many exotic and magical plants, and stop to pull out a potted Mandrake as part of an interactive display. Based on the scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you will recognise the Venomous Tentacula hanging from the ceiling as you walk through the greenhouse. Even if you aren’t the biggest Harry Potter fan, it’s hard not to get drawn in by all this magic and is just so worth a visit with the kids during the summer holidays. Mandrakes and Magical Creatures opens from the 1st of the month until late September.
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Event: Body Movements
Sorry yes this is another rooftop entry BUT this one is different as it’s specifically about the Platty Jubes weekender and the multitude of jaunts available at Roof East over the long bank holiday weekend. Celebrate dear Lizzie (yaaasss Queen) in the way she would want us to, with a huge classic street party style lunchathon in collaboration with Naughty Burger in London’s biggest adult playground. On top of all the bunting, corgi’s, themed cocktails and cake, there will be some drag-tastic entertainment from Queens of the London drag scene Kyran Thrax and Polka Dot. The roof is also jam (scone) packed with games including ping pong, lawn bowls, batting cages, crazy golf, archery and giant jenga as well as a carpark karaoke set up. You literally cannot be bored at this venue. Tickets for this are priced from £22 to £28 depending on the package you choose and are available to book NOW so don’t hang about as you need to get your weekend in order asap! Happy celebrating party people.
Art: Natasha Law, My Flash On You
Eleven Fine Art Gallery is currently showcasing the latest exhibition from Natasha Law, My Flash On You, whose vibrant blocks of gloss paint and descriptive lines characterise her svelte female figures. The act of putting on or taking off our clothes could not be more ordinary. We do it at least twice a day, every day – probably fifty thousand times over a lifetime. And yet to catch sight of someone else engaged in the same undertaking can be an extraordinarily intimate thing. Her works beguilingly capture moments of both vulnerability and intimacy. Tousled hair, the curve of a hip, or discarding clothing, the works allude to the privacy of domestic spaces and relies on the viewer’s own voyeuristic fascination to draw them into her intriguing vignettes. In My Flash On You, women are either fully absorbed in the task at hand or lost in their own private reverie. They are at their most vulnerable – alone, half-nude, aloof, unprepared for prying eyes – though to redress the balance their faces are almost always turned away, hidden by falling hair or an astutely placed elbow, even cut out of the frame altogether. With gloss paint and pencil on aluminium and on paper – her ingredients are simple and constant, though somehow Law never repeats herself. The compositions have a beautifully liquid quality and feel as effortless and spontaneous as music. Eleven is open by appointment only. For further information on My Flash On You please contact Eleven on info@elevenfineart.com.
App of the month: The Female Curve
There’s a massive stigma around female hormones. They’re seen as an annoyance. A liability. The ‘down-side’ of being a woman. But in reality, living in sync with your cycle can supercharge your health, fitness, and wellness. It’s proven by science, and has already improved the lives of hundreds of women. For example, did you know that the start of your period is actually the time you’re most likely to smash your PB? Download The Female Curve App and benefit from the cutting-edge research into women’s hormones to design a programme that’s uniquely tailored to your body. It’s expert advice in your pocket for everything from training and coaching to nutrition and wellbeing. Harness the power of your hormones.
CHARITY OF THE MONTH : pLASTIC FREE jULY
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. They provide resources and ideas to help you (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, and even at your local cafe. The movement has inspired 100+ million participants in 190 countries. Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation that is working towards a vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011, the award-winning Plastic Free July campaign is the result of years of hard work. Those who have taken part so far have, on average, reduced their household waste and recycling by 15kg per person per year (3.5% less waste), globally reduced 2.1 billion tonnes of waste and recycling including 300 million kgs of plastic consumption, 86% people made changes that have become habits/ a way of life and after 11 years Plastic Free July has reduced global demand by 2.3% of all bottled water, 3.1% of all fruit and vegetable packaging, 4.0% of all plastic straws. Simple changes like taking a reusable coffee cup to your local cafe or finding plastic free alternatives when buying fruit & veggies can all add up to a big impact. Join the movement this month and see what changes you can make to help protect our future.