WHAT? Life is More Important Than Art 

WHERE? Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London W1 7QX

WHEN? Now until 17th September 

WHY GO? For a mammoth cultural mash-up.  Prepare to be challenged by art from every angle. This progressive gallery has pulled out all the stops to provide a full-on summer programme and quirky art fest. 

The header, ‘Life is More Important Than Art ….and yet that is why art is important’, is taken from a quote by African American writer James Baldwin and the theme is a constant throughout. 

Whitechapel is known for breaking the mould when it comes to experimental art and there’s a powerful dollop of that, namely in a gallery filled with soft bendy sculptures that can be twisted and contorted to match your mood! 

It all either buzzes with energy or acts as a reminder that life is fragile, sensitively portrayed through an intimate series of paintings entitled, In Sickness and in Health by Matthew Krishanu that chronicles a woman's life, seemingly straight from the heart as his own wife passed away in 2021.

Allow a few hours to fully explore, reflect and digest the various interpretations of the message; this is a marathon of thought provoking artworks, installations, projects and workshops.

IN THE KNOW Curated by Whitechapel’s new director Gilane Tawadros and East London artist Janette Parris who exhibits work from her forthcoming book, This is not a Memoir.  It depicts urban locations that resonate with her youth (which have since been demolished) including East London’s iconic Boleyn Cinema and the Ilford Palais, the first nightclub she frequented.