Exhibition flyer

Balance and Assembly
Robert Filby, Nina Manandhar
Curated by Shama Khanna in conjunction
with Black History Month
Preview: Monday 12 October, 6–9pm
At: The Gallery, Goldsmiths
Although none of the works in this show refer
directly to Black History Month, it is possible
to compare each artist’s use of assemblage
– here balancing intuitive and appropriated
elements with structure and form – against
contemporary forms of social association;
ideas of community and collaboration.
The history of the Black community in the UK
and other Western centres, marked out by its
strength of spirit in the face of adversity and
prejudice, has affected relationships forged
between subsequent generations of different
ethnicities. The importance of this collectivity
is multiplied in the numerous associations we
make, each of us involved in inventing our own
sense of connectedness (to people, places,
memory, references), albeit becoming more
precarious in its extension.
In this sense art suggests points at which
these nodes of ‘community’ align or disperse,
underlining the precariousness of any kind of
assemblage, opening up rather than reinforcing
traditional arguments about whether the
concept is necessarily inclusive or exclusive,
relevant or unnecessary.
Nina Manandhar is a London based artist
whose practice consists of participatory media
projects and photographic work. Through her
photographic work she creates a celebratory
picture of the ‘London That Nobody Knows’,
exploring the hidden social spaces of the
Balance & Assembly 2.indd 1
city’s youth cultures, and looking at how
communities adapt rituals and manipulate
styles in hybrid urban cultures.
Robert Filby is an artist based in Norwich.
Entitled ‘MOOD BOARDS’ his photographed
collages take on the form of their namesake’s
in any applied art industry, but using a diagonal
weave pattern and relating thereon such
unprogressive things as basketry, hair-dos, fur,
lattice pastry, leather work, and thatch, these
are quite un-evocative deadpan tapestries.
Shama Khanna is an independent curator and
writer based in London. Recent publications
and shows she has been involved in include
‘Market Tales: A Geopolyphony’ (2009),
‘Measures of Autonomy’ (Oct 2009) at Studio
One, London and ‘The Showroom Talks’ (Sept
2007) at the Showroom, London. She is a
recent graduate of MA Contemporary Art
Theory at Goldsmiths.
The exhibition is open from 13–30 October
2009, Monday–Friday 11–6pm. For further
information, please contact Meeshka Bernabe
on 079 0895 0041.
The Gallery, Floor 1, Goldsmiths Students
Union, Dixon Road, New Cross SE14 6AW
Trains from London Bridge to New Cross/
New Cross Gate take 6 mins and leave every
2–12 mins.
Buses: 21, 36, 53, 136, 171, 172, 177,
225, 321, 343, 436 and 453.
DLR to Deptford Bridge
7/10/09 08:54:14
Waterfight Series (2009) Nina Manandhar
MOOD BOAD (2009) Robert Filby
Balance & Assembly 2.indd 2
7/10/09 08:54:17