In May, The Mosaic Rooms opened a solo exhibition by Corinne Silva entitled ‘Garden State’. The exhibition offers an unexpected view on gardening by exploring Israel’s suburban gardens, parks and public places and the way in which gardening has been used as a tool in aggressive state expansion, territory marking and occupation. In an aim to also highlight the power of gardening as a positive force for social activism Smallworld Urbanism were commissioned by The Mosaic Rooms to create a sustainable pop-up permaculture garden which was part of Open Garden Squares Weekend and Chelsea Fringe. The exhibition was developed during Silva’s residency at the A. M. Qattan Foundation, Ramallah.
The accompanying programme of public events included a book launch of Ghada Karmi’s new title ‘Return, A Palestinian Memoir’, a panel discussion on photography, colonialism and the politics of planting, and the screening of award winning documentary ‘The Wanted 18’. Two workshops were held in the pop-up garden, engaging the local community and introducing them to permaculture, ecosystem gardening and upcycling. Additionally the artists talk saw Corinne Silva in conversation with Julian Stallabrass and sound artist and composer Toby Wiltshire performed a special composition accompanying the exhibition entitled ‘Gardens of Illusion’. The gallery also hosted two book launches, ‘Syria Burning’ by Charles Glass and Useless Man, a collection of short stories by the renowned Turkish author Sait Faik Abasiyanik. A special supper club in collaboration with Tatreez Café was hosted by the gallery introducing guests to the delicious flavours of Palestine.
The annual Edward W. Said London lecture took place in May, Daniel Barenboim delivered a talk on the role of music in life to a sold out audience at The Southbank Centre.
The exhibition received feature pieces in Electronic Intifada (online), The Middle East Monitor (in print and online) and Photomonitor (online). In local press a large print piece in The Court magazine, and mentions in Time Out (online), the Metro (in print) and Kensington & Chelsea Magazine (in print). Corinne Silva was also interviewed live for Arise News, in the arts section of their programme 'This Day Live’.