Where could you find jazz, jewellery and jungle – t-shirt printing and stick’n’poking – all under one roof? A Paradime Studio event, is the answer.
Words Patrick Harrington (@_patrickharrington_)
Since 2021, Paradime Studio has curated nights in Manchester that blur the lines between art and music. At the tail end of 2023, they hit the capital for their debut London event, and REPEAT had the pleasure of going along.
AMP Studios in Peckham was the perfect setting. Exhibitions and stalls were scattered throughout the two under-arch spaces with a roster of musicians rolling through the stage. The vibe was relaxed; people milled around, pint in hand, between the arches and the courtyard, conversation buzzing beneath a warm cloud of breath and smoke.
Paradime explained they’re “trying to build a space for creative dialogue”. Chatting at the event, they told me their aim is “to be a voice for the un-platformed and to platform the un-platformed”. Creative dialogue certainly flowed – a bonkers 44 artists and brands piled under the arches, including some from collaborators Shapes & Things.
Every medium you would ever picture at a London arts event was represented – as well as plenty that you wouldn’t. If you let your guard down, a single lap of the room could see you decked out with a freshly-printed t-shirt, a tattoo, a shit load of artisan jewellery, and many, many tooth gems.
The decision to bring art and music together was so that, “people who come for the music, and wouldn’t normally come to an art thing, will see the art and get into it – or the other way around”. This particularly takes aim at the “gate-kept art scene” and “boujee galleries”; “we want people who wouldn’t normally go into galleries to see all this art and realise, ‘Oh, maybe I can understand art a bit more than I thought’.”
Paradime Studio is no place for the purists. It was impossible to watch the music without weaving through freaky humanoid heads and delicate glass sculptures. Photo exhibitions, knitwear stalls and audio-visual projects occupied the same space.
Musical highlights included an electric set from rising rock outfit whobodyhow, and an enchanting, soulful performance from Mazz with friends. Every single artist, however, smashed their slots and brought a fresh sound.
When a cool thing comes along, some people jump to poke holes in it. You can hear the cynic: “Yeah, they give all this chat about art and music, but really they’re in it for the money.” Alas, folks, they’re doing it for charity…
Since the start, all Paradime events have been in support of the Young Urban Arts Foundation. YUAF’s mission is to “empower the lives of young people by strengthening well-being and building opportunities, through creativity and culture, ensuring that they are seen, heard and celebrated”. The organization refits decommissioned London buses and hosts workshops for vulnerable kids from areas lacking opportunity.
Good news if you like the sound of all this – the next Paradime event is on 17th February at the infamous Venue MOT. They’re collaborating with breakthewire for their debut event – a group that’s exploded on social media this last year for their enthusiastic documentation of the underground UK dance scene. This one will be more focused on the music, and with Aloka at the helm looks set to be hefty.