Events Celebrates the Art of White City
The Upside Down House can be visited outside the shopping centre
Attendees at the event for the AuthentiCity exhibition
Earlier this month, an event was held to celebrate the work of resident artist Mellezia and participants of The Women of White City (WoWC) project.
Through the AuthentiCity exhibition, Mellezia depicts life on White City Estate in the 90s and explores the impact of place on identity. The AuthentiCity exhibition opened in January 2021 and will run until 1 September 2021.
Attendees at the event, which was a RENA Initiative in partnership with Westfield London and Exhibition London, browsed the artworks to a soundtrack of 90s music and a short film titled ‘AuthentiCity’, which gave guests a behind the scenes look at the inspiration for the exhibition.
From pop art to portraiture, AuthentiCity showcases Mellezia’s buse of colour, structure and text and offers an opportunity to experience the humanity of an area that is often described in terms of statistics and deprivation. This exhibition is Mellezia’s coming of age story. It is a snapshot of people, places and culture that influenced her teenage years in ‘City’.
The AuthentiCity exhibition also features a composite of 20 self-portraits by artists from ‘The RENA Initiative presents: The Women of White City (WoWC) project’. This social enterprise, and community art programme, founded by Mellezia which aims to reduce social isolation, improve mental health and wellbeing.
Free to the public, the AuthentiCity exhibition is open 24/7 and can be found on Silver Walk. During Westfield London opening hours, Silver Walk can be accessed through the ground floor exit between John Lewis and Ole & Steen.
Mellezia said, “I am honoured that so many people have travelled from across England to join in this celebration. The engagement with my AuthentiCity exhibition demonstrates the important part diverse representation in visual art plays in creating a cohesive, inclusive society where all cultures are visible and valued.
Jacinta Rowsell Westfield London General Manager, said, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Mellezia on this exhibition. In line with our group’s Better Places 2030 strategy, we’re committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our residents’, collaborating with our local community and encouraging creativity.”
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August 30, 2021