Curtain Call by Ron Arad at the Roundhouse, London
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.
ADDRESS
Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8EH
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
The moments fashion met art at the 60th Venice Biennale
The best fashion moments at the 2024 Venice Biennale, with happenings from Dior, Golden Goose, Balenciaga, Burberry and more
By Jack Moss Published
-
Crispin at Studio Voltaire, in Clapham, is a feast for all the senses
New restaurant Crispin at Studio Voltaire is the latest opening from the brains behind Bistro Freddie and Bar Crispin, with interiors by Jermaine Gallagher
By Billie Brand Published
-
Vivienne Westwood’s personal wardrobe goes up for sale in landmark Christie’s auction
The proceeds of ’Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection’, running this June, will go to the charitable causes she championed during her lifetime
By Jack Moss Published
-
Christian Marclay tells a tale of two museums in Lausanne’s new arts district
The Swiss-American artist inaugurates the future home of Photo Elysée and Mudac with Déballage, a pair of immersive installations celebrating their collections
By Jessica Klingelfuss Last updated
-
Christian Marclay pays homage to Edvard Munch with new series of woodcuts
By Catherine Shaw Last updated
-
Meta data: artists reflect on Hollywood, mass media and the art world in new show
By Ali Morris Last updated
-
Art of noise: Xavier Veilhan’s live sound experiment hits all the high notes in Venice
By Elly Parsons Last updated
-
Christian Marclay’s outdoor projections put a dizzying spin on the ordinary
By Jessica Klingelfuss Last updated
-
Christian Marclay takes ’Action’ at Aargauer Kunsthaus
Christian Marclay takes 'Action' at Aargauer Kunsthaus
By Jessica Klingelfuss Last updated
-
Artist's Palate: Christian Marclay's fondue moitié-moitié
By Paul McCann Last updated