On 10 October, The Future Rewound & The Cabinet of Souls, the first UK solo show by Tunisian-Russian artist Nadia Kaabi-Linke, opened at the Mosaic Rooms (MR). This was the artist's most extensive solo exhibition to date and featured new specially commissioned site-specific installations, alongside previously unseen and recent work. It was formed in two parts, both inspired by the history of the gallery’s building. The exhibition continued until the 29 November 2014 and attracted great press coverage, including a piece in the Financial Times and in Art Asia Pacific.
The MR also presented an exciting programme of events, many in collaboration with other London arts organisations, to shed further light on the issues raised in Kaabi-Linke's show. In October these included: 'Politics of Exhibiting', a talk hosted at Leighton House Museum; 'Imre Kiralfy of Earl’s Court: From Showman To Impressario' a talk led by academic and author Brendan Gregory, hosted at Leighton House Museum; an 'Exhibition Tour' with exhibiting artist Nadia Kabbi-Linke; an 'Artist’s Talk' with Nadia and Timo Kaabi-Linke in conversation with Dr Falko Schmieder, hosted at Goethe Institut; and 'Culture Now' a talk with Nadia and Timo Kaabi-Linke in conversation with the Director of Open Eye gallery, Lorenzo Fusi, hosted at ICA.
In November, events included: 'Time in the Shadows: Confinement in Counterinsurgencies', a talk with author Laleh Khalili, hosted at Free Word Centre; and a screening and discussion 'Exhibiting Africa' with academic Dr Tom Rice, hosted at Goethe Institut.
In addition to this, the MR launched their first ever crowdfunding project to produce an artist's book in collaboration with Syrian artist Hrair Sarkissian, to launch in time for his first UK solo exhibition, opening at The Mosaic Rooms, London, on 13 March 2015. This project was selected as one of a small number of ‘outstanding non-commercial art projects’ to be showcased as part of the new Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative in partnership with Kickstarter. The project ran until 13 December 2014 and aims to secure a minimum of £8,000 from pledgers. For further information or to make donations from £1+, please visit our Kickstarter page here.