Curtain Call by Ron Arad at the Roundhouse, London

concept image
Curtain Call concept image, by Ron Arad Associates
(Image credit: TBC)

London may have had quite some month but, at the height of the rioting mayhem, a remarkable and inspiring story was unfolding inside Chalk Farm's Roundhouse. On 8 August, the historic former railway building unveiled Curtain Call, an astonishing installation by Ron Arad, incorporating a month-long programme of events that culminate this weekend. We suggest you see them while you still can.

Arad, whose design studio is conveniently situated almost opposite the building, has masterminded a giant (18m across) circular curtain inside the space made from 5,600 identical 8m-tall silicone rods. Suspended from the (considerable) roof of the space, the free-hanging rods provide a backdrop on to which a series of especially commissioned artworks is currently being projected. The programme includes musicians, artists, designers, and students from the Royal College of Art (where Arad was professor of design products) and visitors can walk through the swinging curtain and interact directly with the 360 degree video images.

And what powerful images they are. Christian Marclay's Pianorama is an audiovisual composition, featuring pianist Steve Beresford, filmed and remixed by Marclay, with Beresford's multiplied hands projected onto the curtain. Greenaway & Greenaway, brothers based in London and Berlin, have devised a film which fractures images of the Roundhouse itself and re-projects them onto the curtain causing an eery sense of displacement in the space. Then there is Hussein Chalayan, who is showing his film Kaikoku, Mat Collishaw and David Shrigley, all who have created bespoke works.

Curtain Call has been, by all accounts, an epic installation to physically achieve, and the spirit in which it was created was a generous one that sat in stark contrast to the surrounding unrest in the city in early August. Sponsored by Bloomberg, the public is invited to pay whatever they can for admission.

Arad's installation

Arad's installation has just been unveiled inside the Roundhouse in North London
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

giant (18m across) circular curtain

Arad has masterminded a giant (18m across) circular curtain made from 5,600 identical 8m-tall silicone rods
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

artworks will be projected

Suspended from the (considerable) roof of the space, the free-hanging rods provide a backdrop on which a series of especially commissioned artworks will be projected over the coming month, including 'Waking Dream' (pictured) by SDNA
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

'Waking Dream'

A still from 'Waking Dream' by SDNA

(Image credit: TBC)

'Sordid Earth'

The programme includes musicians, artists, designers, and students from the Royal College of Art (where Arad was professor of design products). Pictured is Mat Collishaw's 'Sordid Earth'
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

360 degree video images

Visitors can walk through the swinging curtain and interact directly with the 360 degree video images
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

an audiovisual composition

Christian Marclay's Pianorama is an audiovisual composition featuring pianist Steve Beresford filmed and remixed by Marclay
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

The Fat Girl Gets a Haircut

The Fat Girl Gets a Haircut and Other Stories by Babis Alexiadis
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

The Fat Girl Gets a Haircut

The Fat Girl Gets a Haircut and Other Stories by Babis Alexiadis
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

'Greyhound Carrousel Race'

'Greyhound Carrousel Race' by Olivia Decaris and Hina Thibaud
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

12" records into elegant loudspeakers

In a one off special inside the curtain on the 27 August (4 -7pm), Paul Cocksedge will be transforming 12" records into elegant loudspeakers used to amplify sounds from smartphones. Bring your own record and see its metamorphosis happen.

(Image credit: TBC)

'Roundhouse'

'Roundhouse°' by Greenaway & Greenaway
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

'ProlongGone'

'ProlongGone' by Gabriel Klasmer and Shira Klasmer
Photograph by Stephen White

(Image credit: Stephen White)

'Walker', 2011,

Animation stills from 'Walker', 2011, by David Shrigley

(Image credit: TBC)

'They Never Met Themselves'

'They Never Met Themselves' by RCA students Florie Salnot and Billur Turan

(Image credit: TBC)

'They Never Met Themselves'

'They Never Met Themselves' by RCA students Florie Salnot and Billur Turan

(Image credit: TBC)

'They Never Met Themselves'

'They Never Met Themselves' by RCA students Florie Salnot and Billur Turan

(Image credit: TBC)

'Kaikoku'

Still from 'Kaikoku' by Hussein Chalayan

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8EH

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