Hypha Studios and Creative Land Trust Unveil MELT: A NEW EXHIBITION BRINGING ARTISTS BACK TO THE CITY
Hypha Studios (HS) and Creative Land Trust (CLT) have joined forces to present a new exhibition, as part of Frieze 2023, spotlighting the work of 32 exceptional artists and creatives who have flourished through the support of these visionary organisations.
Where: Unit 3. Euston Tower. 286 Euston Road, London NW1 3DP
Press preview: Monday 9 October 2023 - 8.30am - 12pm. RSVP to CreativeLandTrust@Kallaway.com
OPEN: Monday 9th – 22nd October 2023, 12 - 6pm daily
In a city pulsating with creative energy, MELT shines a spotlight on the source of London's artistic vibrancy.
Featured prominently are CLT's brilliant studio holders from the Wallis Road site, including artists such as Shiori Akiba, Enej Gala, and Zarina Khan. Notably, the exhibition also presents CLT's ambassadors - Adelaide Damoah, Haroon Mirza, and Emmanuel Unaji - united in the cause of ensuring artists have opportunities to thrive. Further enriching the showcase are Hypha Studios' own talent, including Margaret Ayres, Jon Kipps, and Kialy Tihngang. These artists have been granted invaluable free studio and exhibition space in London, a testament to the organisation’s commitment to fostering innovation.
The exhibition's title, MELT, pays homage to the legendary FREEZE exhibition curated by Damien Hirst in 1988 - a pivotal moment that echoes the current climate of creative evolution. Just as the Young British Artists emerged from that time, MELT raises poignant questions about the future of contemporary artists amid the wealth of unclaimed spaces. Creative Land Trust and Hypha Studios are aligned in their mission and provoke audiences to think about who and what will flourish when artists are afforded the space they deserve.
Creative Land Trust was set up to acquire, preserve and protect long term affordable workspaces for artists, whereas Hypha Studios negotiates free short-term studio and exhibition space for artists in return for a public programme to benefit local communities.
MELT is the inaugural exhibition at Hypha Studios' brand-new central London location, Regent’s Place, as part of a three-year partnership with British Land. Regent’s Place, owned by British Land, is a fully managed campus including a mix of offices, retail and residential property and is expected to host a number of other exhibitions over the three-year period. British Land provides high quality space to a broad range of local organisations on an affordable basis as part of their commitment to create long-lasting positive impact on the communities they operate within.
Gordon Seabright, Creative Land Trust CEO, said:
"Creative Land Trust was founded to secure long term affordable workspace for artists and makers in London. Already in our short life we've secured three buildings with space for as many as 250 creatives, with more to come. The UK's creative industries are bigger than the automotive, aerospace, life sciences and oil & gas sectors combined, but we need to make sure there are places for artists to work if London and the UK are to remain global leaders for culture and creativity. That's why Creative Land Trust is working hard to make space for art and we’re really excited to showcase just some of the work that’s been created by artists we’ve supported at MELT, part of this year’s Frieze.”
Hanne Peeraer, Creative Land Trust Artist, said:
“Having the studio on Wallis Road has been a blessing. It can be so tough to find affordable decent studio spaces in London and this place ticks all the boxes.”
Haroon Mirza, Creative Land Trust Ambassador, said:
“I became involved with the CLT for the simple reason that it’s imperative for the cultural wellbeing of our capital to accommodate and support artists. Art is at the very core of creativity and without it we are stale. London and the UK are quickly becoming inhospitable for creative practices, which needs to be thoroughly addressed immediately.”
Camilla Cole & Will Jennings, Hypha Studios
“At Hypha Studios we believe culture should be at the heart of our towns and communities, so we transform empty high street commercial spaces into free exhibition space for local artists. We have done this up and down the country, from Bristol to Penrith, Eastbourne to Dudley. In London we are particularly excited about what we can offer, including this new gallery in Euston - which after MELT, our celebratory launch exhibition, will become home to a series of rolling exhibitions by artists and curators successful from a free open call”
Marine One, Hypha Studio Artist, said:
“The primary advantage of being able to use this space is its affordability. Given the rising rents in the city that have been pushing artists out, having access to an exhibition space for free allows us to focus more on our creative process without the financial stress.”
Simon Hepher-Davies, Asset Manager – Offices at British Land, said: “Creating affordable space is key to British Land’s mission to create thriving places at its campuses, including this initiative at Regent’s Place. We are looking forward to working with Hypha Studios and Creative Land Trust to provide space for local artists to flourish.”
Affordable creative spaces are necessary for our cities, towns and local communities to thrive, making better places that people want to live and be in, and as laboratories for research and development of the Creative Industries, which as a sector contribute £13bn to the UK economy each year.
For press inquiries, interviews, and further information, please contact:
CreativeLandTrust@Kallaway.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Artist list:
CLT Ambassadors: Adelaide Damoah, Haroon Mirza, Emmanuel Unaji
CLT Artists: Shiori Akiba, Urania's Children, Enej Gala, Zarina Khan, Lindsay Mapes, Max Maxwell, Ruoru Mou, Mimi Owens, Hanne Peeraer, Carina Santos
Hypha Studios Artists: Margaret Ayres, Paul Barbu, Luca Bosani, Flora Bradwell, Hot Desque, Chris Elliot, Elliot Fox, Jon Kipps, Sara Marinangeli, Celeste McEvoy, Lindsay Jean McLean, Ellie Niblock, Hazel O'Sullivan, Kinga Oktabska, Marine One, Aaron Peevers, Maria Positano, Kialy Tihngang.
CLT Ambassadors @adelaidedamoah @haroon._.mirza @emmanuel__unaji
CLT artists: Shiori Akiba Urania's Children @enejgala @zarinakhan @lindsaymapes @maxxart.co.uk @ruorumou @mimisrapture, @hanne_peeraer, @presidents
Hypha Studios Artists @turpentinequeen @paulstefanbarbu @luca_bosani @florabradwellart @hotdesque @chrisrabbitartt @elliot_fox @jonkipps @saramarinangeli7 @celesteamcevoy @lindseyjeanmclean @ellieniblockartist @hazelosullivanart @kingaoktabska @marine_one_art @peevers_artwork @maria.positano @kialytihngang
ABOUT HYPHA STUDIOS
Hypha Studios emerged as an idea during the pandemic, prompted by the three-sided problem of increasing high street vacancies, loss of community spaces and deteriorating conditions for artists and creatives. Founded by Camilla Cole and Will Jennings, both curators, the non-profit organisation was set up with three core objectives: one, to bring culture and engagements in the arts to the public throughout the UK, two, to help landowners keep their assets alive through an injection of local creativity; and three, to help artists unlock new bounds of creativity by unlocking vacant units, free of charge.
cc@hyphastudios.com
ABOUT CREATIVE LAND TRUST
Creative Land Trust was founded to tackle a long-standing problem for London, and indeed other global cities. The loss of affordable workspace, and consequent outflow of artists and makers, present a serious threat to the wellbeing and prosperity of a city so reliant on creativity for its success. Artists are unable to focus their time on their practice due to the instability inherent in relying on temporary workspace, and expert studio providers are displaced from their locations despite years of building equity. Creative Land Trust is making space for art to overcome these challenges.
https://creativelandtrust.org/
info@creativelandtrust.org
ABOUT BRITISH LAND
British Land’s high quality UK commercial property is focused on London Campuses and Retail & London Urban Logistics. They own or manage a portfolio valued at £13.0bn (British Land share: £8.9bn) as at 31 March 2023 making them one of Europe’s largest listed real estate investment companies.
British Land creates Places People Prefer, delivering the best, most sustainable places for their customers and communities. Their strategy is to leverage our best in class platform and proven expertise in development, repositioning and active management, investing behind two key themes: Campuses and Retail & London Urban Logistics.
Sustainability is embedded throughout their business. Their Approach is focused on three key pillars where British Land can create the most benefit: Greener Spaces, making their whole portfolio net zero carbon by 2030, Thriving Places, making a long-lasting, positive social impact in communities, and Responsible Choices, advocating responsible business practices across British Land and throughout their supply chain, and maintaining robust governance structures. Further details can be found on the British Land website at www.britishland.com.