2 FOR 1
15th June - 7th July 2023
In collaboration with THORP STAVRI and Hypha Studios
Exhibiting artists: Conor Ackhurst, Solanne Bernard, Ingrid Berthon-Moine, Camilla Bliss, Mark Connolly John Costi, Bill Daggs, Charlotte Dawson, Marc-Aurèle Debut, Jo Dennis, Evangelia Dimitrakopoulou, Emmely Elgersma, Sally Hackett, Bart Hajduk, Alia Hamaoui, Byzantia Harlow, Natalia Janula, Marie-Louise Jones, Katia Kesic, Jon Kipps, Shepherd Manyika, Alexi Marshall, Lindsey Jean McLean, Sophie Mei Birkin, Maria Positano, Anna Reading, Ally Rosenberg, Hannah Rowan, Sam Taylor, Melania Toma, Andrea V.Wright
“2 for 1” is a phrase commonly associated with consumerism and the retail industry, whereby customers can purchase one item and receive a second one at no additional cost. However, the “2 for 1” concept can extend beyond the retail sector, symbolising the notion of receiving additional and unexpected advantages, or opportunities in various contexts. As such, this exhibition adopts the well-known retail term, not only as a nod to the building’s past - a Sainsbury’s supermarket, but also to the collaboration between two curatorial platforms - Thorp Stavri (Eric Thorp and Nicholas Stavri) and HAZE (Camilla Bliss and Solanne Bernard), as they explore the concepts of duality and multiplicity.
As nomadic curatorial platforms, they have embedded collaboration and partnering into the core of their practice. Recognising the limitations of working independently, they have consistently fostered support systems that extend beyond their individual capacities. Having previously worked together on
the monumental Factory Project, they unite again for a new exhibition with a view to highlighting the importance of partnerships, by shining a spotlight on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, and provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The Goals are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Through this collaborative exhibition, we aim to activate the dynamic energy of art to create a dialogue with the SDGs and inspire creatives and communities in a positive and meaningful way.
Expanding on the aims set by the SDGs, 2 For 1 brings together 31 artists whose practices address one or more of these goals and explore the important topics raised by them - highlighting the strength in collective action towards creating a sustainable and equitable future for all.
