Folie à Deux opening night: I have this strange kind of feeling and I just can’t place it

Seven months to the day from when the idea of Folie à Deux first occurred to us, we’re pleased to report that Thursday’s private view was a roaring success. Capacity crowd, amazing food, great music, a barnstorming performance from Mauricio Velasierra and his band – and three works sold. We couldn’t have wished for more, and before anything else we want to thank everyone involved in making it such a great evening: the artists, performers, Madeleine our DJ, Jane for hleping with social media, Keith Roberts for his sterling service in helping us to hang the works, everybody at Utrophia for their help and amenability, and everyone who came to support us and entered into the spirit of Folie à Deux. You all played a part in making it a memorable – and for us, emotional – night. It’s been quite a journey…

Giulia Ricci and friend

Mauricio Velasierra and his band

 








Kicking off at 7pm, the evening wound down around 10.30. It was great to have a focal point to the evening, provided by Mauricio’s ‘edible soundscapes’ experiment in which cubes of spiced melon, delicious and fiery rice and potato balls, and popping candy ice cream were interpreted musically. 

'Edible soundscapes' kicks off

Guests enjoying popping candy ice cream

  
 

The week leading up to the opening was lots of hard work – we were down at the gallery after work every evening painting and cleaning the space, and unpacking and placing the works, with only nosebags of Bombay mix attached to our faces to keep us going! As the works arrived, it quickly became clear that the exhibition was going to be something really special and, whilst all very different, our feeling that there was some indefinable thread connecting all the pieces on some level proved to be correct.

If you haven’t made it down yet, hope to see you there soon. If you have, please spread the word. And don’t forget to check out the accompanying events by keeping up to date with news on our Facebook page – we have a free folk evening coming up on 20 November; Giulia Ricci will be talking about her work with Clara on 21 November, and Judith Lyons with Chris the following Saturday. We’ll also be open late on the final Friday of the show (27 November) as part of South London’s monthly art trail ‘Last Fridays’ – so see you then if not before…

Chris and Clara