One-Night Extravaganza Of Art Takes Over East London

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 81 months ago

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One-Night Extravaganza Of Art Takes Over East London
Whitechapel Gallery will be open late — a chance to catch their current Benedict Drew exhibition. Courtesy of the artist and Matt's Gallery

Gallery lates are nothing revolutionary, but Art Night goes on into the wee small hours. For 12 hours from 6pm on 1 July, east London will be sprinkled liberally with all things art; galleries keep their doors open, venues host special installations, and everyone has an artsy ball.  

One of our top tips? Jake and Dinos Chapman — known for their macabre, often disturbing, works — will be haunting a warehouse in the docks, with a show starring creepy mannequins (look out for eyeballs where they shouldn't be).

We'd love to set foot in the bascule chamber of Tower Bridge for a meditative experience. A great venue. © Steve Stills

There's an Aleister Crowley-themed video installation in the Masonic temple at Andaz London (a must visit if you've not made it here during Open House), a silent disco in Broadgate Square (you're invited to join in) — or treat your eardrums to a night of sonic experimentation at Village Underground.

Bars, DJs, live music, and historic tours are the icing on the cake.

The Chapman brothers are know for their creepy kooky works and they'll have art across two venues. Courtesy of the artists and White Cube

Last year our biggest gripe was the fact half the exhibitions were ticketed; this time there seems to be less of this going on, though there may be still some queuing. One ticketed work worth noting is a meditative light and sound installation in the bascule chamber of Tower Bridge. It's fully booked but there is a waitlist. Sign up, we say.

This masonic temple will play host to a video work. Courtesy Andaz London Liverpool Street

Local galleries are staying up too, so if you haven't caught the latest exhibition at, say, Whitechapel Gallery or Beers London, stock up on coffee, and call in.

Do Ho Suh wowed with his recent exhibition at Victoria Miro gallery, so let's see what he can do for Art Night

With so many participants, it's going to be nigh-on impossible to see it all, so plan and book ahead using the online map and download a visitors guide. Otherwise, there are suggested trails to help you out, or there'll be plenty you can get involved with if you just turn up.

Art Night is on across various venues in east London on 1 July, from 6pm onwards. Some events continue till 2 July.

Last Updated 28 June 2017