an international evening on first thursday...

First Thurdays is an initiative support by Art Council England to promote art in East London. On every first thursday of each month, galleries and museums open later than usual well beyond office hours to give the public an opportunity to experience art and performances across the area. It is a great way to enjoy a thursday night, and last week we checked out 2 places showcasing the fact that London is a truly international city -

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Distance & Sensibility
Calvert 22 Gallery
Till 13.06.2010

Calvert 22 has teamed up with David Thorp to curate this multimedia show which focuses on how migration in this ever-globalising world brought inspiration to artists who live elsewhere from their home towns. The artists presented are all from Eastern Europe (except Lily Markiewicz) and now live in London. 

'Museum Vocabularies (1966-1992)' by Marysia Lewandowska

'Museum Vocabularies (1966-1992)' by Marysia Lewandowska

Live performance by Margarita Gluzberg

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Counterpoints: Jia Aili & Lu Chunsheng
Rivington Place
till 15.05.2010

Rivington Place is bringing Chinese artists Jia Aili (贾蔼力) & Lu Chunsheng (陆春生) to the European audience. This is the 1st solo show for Jia and the video work from Lu presented is a european premiere.

Jia Aili's work

Jia has utilised the transparent and extrovert nature of the space and created 3-dimensional pieces travelling across walls & floors in the gallery -

Jia Aili's work

Jia Aili's work

Overview of Jia Aili's work in Project Space 1, Rivington Place. video link

Here is a video work of Lu Chunsheng found online (not the one showing in Rivington Place) -

Curve which can cough(会咳嗽的曲线)

Further Readings -
First Thursdays art map
Official page for Distance & Sensibility in Calvert 22 website
Official site of Rivington Place
Official website of Jia Ai Li
'Artist Margarita Gluzberg on how she draws' from the Guardian, 19.09.2009
'The Plot Folds: An Interview with Margarita Gluzberg' by Peter Carty for Mute, 29.10.2008
'A walk in the Life of Jia Aili' by Karen Smith for the New York Arts, issue sep/oct 2007
'History of Chemisty Vol. 2 by Lu Chun Sheng' from art.china.cn, 19.12.2006