ActionSpace

DREAMING IN COLOUR

ActionSpace, London’s leading development agency for learning disabled artists, presents an exhibition of work by artists from their Brent studio at ACAVA in Barham Park. Central to this exhibition is a site-specific mural at Kiln Theatre that has been assembled as a result of a series of community workshops, led by young ActionSpace artist Jorell Bonnick.

Bonnick works primarily with drawing to create abstract and vibrant works which communicate both diligence and abundance. Over four community workshops in ActionSpace’s Brent Studio, the artist has been working with learning-disabled participants from Brent based Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools and day services. Learning Disabled people can often find verbal communication challenging and as such have few opportunities to share their thoughts and feelings with their families, friends, neighbours and peers.

The workshop participants were introduced to Jorell’s work and encouraged to think about their experiences of living in Brent as inspirations to create prints. In this way, Jorell’s collaborative artwork was an opportunity to bring together the voices of some of the learning-disabled people who have made their home in the borough. Following the workshop sessions, the resulting collection of prints was brought together by the artist to create a wall hanging for the entrance of the Kiln Theatre.

This exhibition will open to coincide with Kiln Theatre’s presentation of “The Darkest Hour of the Night” (14 July – 13 August 2022), a play about a young brother and sister coping with life after their mother’s death, and the sister’s struggle to secure support for her autistic brother. Jorell was particularly excited to show his work at the Kiln Theatre, a venue where he used to work as a front of house assistant.

Alongside the community mural, ActionSpace will be presenting a group exhibition including artworks by five young Brent Studio Artists, Abubakar Akram, Iffah Amaioua, Mohammed Imran Khan, Nyim Joe Leung and Daniel Seneviratne. Established in the 1960s, ActionSpace is an exceptional visual arts organisation with big ambitions for the artists that they work with. ActionSpace supports, advocates and promotes diversity within the contemporary visual arts sector. All of their work is focused towards enabling learning disabled artists to develop and sustain professional careers in the arts.

ActionSpace’s Brent Studio is supported by John Lyons Charity.

Website: www.actionspace.org

Instagram: @actionspace