Overview

Join artists Permindar Kaur and Prem Sahib in conversation with art critic Ben Luke as they discuss their concurrent exhibitions Permindar Kaur: Mirror Mirror and Prem Sahib: Doubles at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery. Taking place within Sir John Soane’s historic home, the conversation will explore key themes in both artists’ practices, including architecture, identity, and the uncanny.

From Kaur’s reflections on childhood to Sahib’s evocations of growing up in Southall – touching on family, queerness, and place, this event will delve into how their works engage with and respond to the unique setting of Pitzhanger and its surrounding context.

Your ticket includes entry to both exhibitions. While there will be limited time to view the works after the talk, we recommend arriving early to explore the exhibitions beforehand.

About Permindar Kaur

Permindar Kaur is a sculptor and installation artist whose playful approach of using objects related to childhood, such as toys and cots, explores the territory of cultural identity, home, and belonging. These objects resemble displaced domestic belongings which have been distorted and manipulated to invoke the uncanny. They are deceptively familiar in their appearance and initially might remind the viewer of innocence, childhood, and play; belying their sinister undertones.

Since the 1990s Kaur’s practice has investigated integration and belonging, particularly cultural identity. This July and September, Kaur will join The Art House as Resident Artist, to continue her research and interest in the ‘public’ and ‘private’, and ongoing investigation to the central question in her practice: ‘where is home?’.

About Prem Sahib

Prem Sahib is a queer British artist, born of a Polish mother and Indian father. They grew up in Southall, a mostly Asian neighbourhood on the outskirts of London, and felt the full force of exclusion on account of their race and gender preference while growing up. Their work engages with issues relating to queerness and sexuality, often highlighting the plight of vulnerable minorities and how institutions and societies deprive them of their rights and safety. The artist’s work frequently features minimalist forms that are destabilised by the content they invest them with. They merge the personal with the political in work that ranges from painting and sculpture to sound pieces and environmental installations marked by their formal precision and clean aesthetic.

About Ben Luke

Ben Luke is Review editor at The Art Newspaper and hosts its podcasts A brush with… and The Week in Art. Since 2009, he has been an art critic at the Evening Standard and he has written for numerous other art magazines and newspapers. He has contributed catalogue essays on artists including Michael Craig-Martin, Mark Dion, Sean Scully, George Shaw and Jiro Takamatsu.

About Thursday Lates

Pitzhanger stays open until 8pm on the first Thursday of every month offering visitors an after-hours chance to view the exhibitions, and to join a wide range of events and activities, or simply enjoy a glass of something in our café/bar. Please note that some talks and events may require additional tickets so do check the website for details ahead of your visit.