Sunday 15 August 18:00 - 21:00

The Old Bank Vault
283 Hackney Road
London
E2 8NA

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Azhun

Performing & Visual Arts

The Old Bank Vault invites you to celebrate the launch of Layla Andrews' new exhibition, Ahzun.

Ahzun - An Art Exhibition by Layla Andrews

The Old Bank Vault is proud to present ‘Ahzun’ by Layla Andrews. To celebrate its opening, we will be host a private view on the 15th July which we warmly welcome you to!

Deriving its name from a poignant mispronunciation of the word ‘our’s’, ‘Ahzun’ refers to the moment her nan and grandfather first lovingly stared at their new, and first, home in England after he moved from the Island of St. Helena. Since then, the word has been passed around her family, a secret language honouring their journey and heritage. ‘Ahzun’ in many ways informed Layla’s identity as one intrinsically connected to a sense of place, time, and importantly, people.

At the heart of ‘Ahzun’ beats a rich cultural tale explored through the faint pulses of memory Layla projects into abstraction. Drawing on her family’s origins from the tropical and volcanic island of St. Helena, she deconstructs the influence of Western music and culture that has spread throughout this small land. Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, measuring roughly 10 by 5 miles, St. Helena, until very recently, had been one of the most challenging and remote places to access in the world. Yet, the assimilation of ‘cowboy’ culture has somehow infiltrated the islander’s way of life. Layla challenges the dominance of white masculinity surrounding this subject:

‘The advocacy of ‘cowboy’ culture is flawed and problematic. However, the aspects worth celebrating; the sounds, community stories and bold style, exceeds the white South of America and can be found on a little island in the middle of the Atlantic.'

About the Artist

Layla Andrews is a contemporary artist and designer based in Brixton. Since the age of fifteen, Layla has carefully been refining her practice and is now widely recognised for her large-scale, expressionist and abstract portraiture.

As a mixed-race artist growing up in a non-nuclear, working class household she has never felt she quite fits a box and this is reflected within her eclectic range of work.

Whilst people form the basis of much of her art, family stories, the natural world, and her lifelong love of second hand treasure all inspire and influence her collections.

The chaos of her work is softened by the rich colours that are merged together, often blended by her hands rather than a brush. Although her pieces are personal, she hopes the abstract yet distinguishable details of her depictions harbour a sense of familiarity for individuals to interpret.

Finding a name for herself early on, Layla was invited to Nelson Mandela’s memorial service at Westminster, thanks to her portrait of the South African president which was intended as a gift before his untimely passing. She was recognised thereafter as an artist, being congratulated by Barack Obama in 2016 for her practice: ‘I am inspired by the strength and resilience that comes across in stories like yours’ the former President wrote.

Layla has gone from strength to strength, exhibiting at the South African Embassy, WWF headquarters, Brixton Village and Oxo Tower. We are now thrilled to be hosting the much-anticipated solo show ‘Ahzun’ here at The Old Bank Vault.

Please note that in keeping with the government's guidance, we kindly ask that at the event, you follow social distancing rules and wear a mask when necessary.

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