Exhibitions
One of many things we strive for at Arjuna, is for the shop to be a focal point for the community. Our front windows house posters and fliers about upcoming events and activities. Butin 2009 we decided we could take this one step further by giving over some of our wall space for Local Artists to use for exhibition space. We are currently using only the space above the museli section and entrance to the back area of the shop but are interesting in all thoughts and ideas as to how we could develop this further.
Sam Motherwell
Our very first attempt at displaying the works of a local artist was to hang linocuts by one of our longest serving customers, Sam Motherwell. Sam has been coming to Arjuna ever since it opened in 1970, and it seemed only fitting to show his work especially as it included portraits of Arjuna.
Sam has since offered framed prints of our shop on a long term loan, and can currently be seen on the shelves behind the till, and if his work feels familiar that’s because it has been used as the cover for the Mill Road Winter Fair programme, and has been included in many exhibitions such as at the Six Bells in Covent Garden, and 5 at 5 Gallery, Gwydir Street.
Since this exhibition, he has collated his work into a wonderful book of prints celebrating Mill Road’s diversity.For more information go to his website: http://sammotherwell.weebly.com
This lovely book is available to buy direct from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and at £15 is a very shrewd investment!
He is currently working on even more depictions of Mill Road in a variety of media, including we hope some more of Arjuna.
Aysegul Davis
The second exhibition was of local Turkish photographer, Aysegul Davis. Her work captured the Newroz Celebrations 2008 (Finsbury Park, London).
Aysegul moved to Cambridge from Turkey, thirteen years ago, and has since achieved a BA (Hons) Photography degree. As a photographer she is interested in exploring issues of identity and ideology, in particular, the waywe construct identities for ourselves as well as for others.
Why do we need symbols (such as national dress and flags) to express who we are? Her images explore people’s need to find a sense of belonging through group identities. The photographs are taken from an objective stance, attempting to document what she sees rather than to use the image to convey a specific point of view.
Newroz Celebration, is considered the most important festival in Kurdish culture. It is a time for families to gather, prepare special meals, recite poetry, and enjoy games and dancing. Traditionally Newroz is seen as a peaceful festival but in recent years it has become a very political issue in Turkey. The people gathered in the photographs are a mixture of economic as well as political Kurdish refugees from Turkey. Some are animated in their support for the PKK* but mainly the atmosphere is muted, perhaps, by nature of the celebration, and the reminder of their uncertain status away from home.
For more information regarding buying a print or hiring Aysegul as a photographer contact: 07952 125 569 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
* The Kurdistan Workers Party is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by a number of states and organizations, including the United States, NATO and the European Union, their aim had been to establish an independent, socialist Kurdish state in Kurdistan, a geographical region that comprises parts of southeastern Turkey, northeastern Iraq, northeastern Syria and northwestern Iran, where the Kurdish population is the majority but has now changed to a more moderate claim for cultural and political rights for the ethnic Kurdish population in Turkey, perhaps in reflection to their pariah status.
Alexandra Medville
Lumière by Alexandra Medeville – 2009
‘Coming from a family of professional photographers, I have always been around photographs, and I used to look at them over and over again. I couldn’t then have realised the impact it would have on my life; but within the last few years, it became very natural for me to use photography as a way of expressing myself.
After finishing my studies in France in 2000, I emigrated to London and then to Cambridge to work mainly as a web designer. I have always lived a life of art, although I hadn’t found my most-suited media until recently.
After several years, I’m now ready to show my work to people, which I’m really excited about. The pictures I have chosen were taken in La Scala, a large club in London, near King’s Cross. The interior had what seemed like thousands of light bulbs – I found them mysterious and mesmerizing, and wanted to explore and capture those two aspects with my photos.
I used to focus largely on landscape photography; my attention has evolved over time, and now I find myself more and more drawn to abstract subjects. I want to show images to people that they wouldn’t necessarily see by themselves.
This exhibition in Arjuna is my first one. I look forward to hearing what you think about it. I hope you enjoy it.’
For more information: http://www.maav.co.uk
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