The show, titled “Illustrating Golden,” opens at Picturehouse Hackney on 21 March. It gathers 15 artists whose work appeared in the limited-edition hardback magazine launched earlier this year.
The magazine acts as a cultural time capsule for the community. This exhibition, held in partnership with ARCO, moves those images from the page to the gallery wall to celebrate the visual style of the community.
Launch event at the Attic Bar
To mark the start of the exhibition, a celebratory drinks reception will take place at the Attic Bar within Hackney Picturehouse.
The launch event is scheduled for Saturday, 21 March, from 14:00 to 16:00. Tickets for the reception are free and include a complimentary drink for those who attend.
Featured artists and styles
The exhibition includes a wide range of visual styles, from minimal portraits to surreal digital art.
Stanley Chow, a Manchester-based illustrator, is one of the featured names. He is known for his geometric portraits and has previously worked with brands like Apple and the New Yorker. His contribution to the collection features a portrait of HUNTR/X, celebrating the global success of K-Pop Demon Hunters. The film recently made history by winning Oscars for both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
Other artists in the lineup include:
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Alison Hui: A writer and zine-maker who focuses on identity and city life.
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Daryl Rainbow: A Hackney-based illustrator who has created work for Netflix and Adidas.
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Camille Whitcher: A British-Japanese author who uses pencil and digital colour to explore folk tales.
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Laura N-Tamara: An award-winning animator who draws on her French-Indonesian heritage.
The show also features work by Scarlett Yang, whose style explores human relationships, and Martin Lee, a landscape architect who uses art to connect with his mother tongue.
The exhibition aims to create a permanent record of the British ESEA experience.
The editors of the magazine, Chi Thai, Jun Kit Man, and Zoe Li, wanted to move away from the idea of the community as a single voice. They chose artists who show the variety of thought and talent in the UK today.
The pieces on display cover topics such as family life, urban migration, and the impact of food on memory.
How to visit
“Illustrating Golden” runs from 21 March until 26 April at Picturehouse Hackney.
Entry to the exhibition is free, but you must book tickets through Eventbrite to attend the launch reception and secure your complimentary drink.
The gallery is open during the cinema’s standard operating hours. You can see work by all 15 contributors, including Ann Man Hei Wong, Helen Lo, Jason Lyon, Jillian Mendoza, Lisa Ha, Oliver Li, Vicky Lee, and Zhenyi Zheng.
You can book your free tickets to the exhibition here
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