Free art arrives at the Southbank this summer as the beautiful colours of the season are matched by work on display in the centre of London.
Between the day festivals, rounds of Aperol Spritz, and bottomless brunches throughout the summer in London (not too mention the cash dropped on trips abroad), the warm season can get pretty expensive, pretty quickly.
So when a series of free art comes to the city in the summertime, you can bet your final dime that we shall be listening. And we shall be attending the beautiful and free series of art. The series as a whole is called You Belong Here, and comes with a theme of identity and rediscovering lost history.
You Belong Here
Commencing on June 1, You Belong Here will be running at the Southbank all summer long until the series ends on September 1, when they (much like Green Day when this month rolls around) will be calling it quits.
Wander through works that come and go through the season, all of which are free, thought-provoking works that include returning favourites and new pieces.
Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms will be back at the Southbank, giving the young ones (and older ones) another summer of running through water and cooling off from the sun. You’ll find it at the Riverside Terrace level 2 from June 5. It returns alongside Suzie Larke’s illusionary photography work of Unseen, as well as the concrete pocket garden by Denman + Gould.
Elsewhere, you’ll be treated to the work of the acclaimed Hayward Gallery exhibition Tavares Strachan: There Is Light Somewhere extending into the outdoors to share the stories of icons, with two huge inflatables that represent Marsha P. Johnson and Mary Seacole. Artist Yinka Ilori is also drawing on the neon work of Tavares Strachan and bringing colourful patterns over to share a message of unity.
A walk past Royal Festival Hall will also treat you to a sighting of the reimagined flags of Africa flying above it, which is the work of conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas, and at the Hayward Gallery, passers-by will be able to see Sola Olulode’s banner celebrating Black Queer lived experience. Heading inside the gallery, you’ll then see Olivia Plender’s mobile work that shows the friendship across borders between Sylvia Pankhurst and Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia.
Catch all this and more inspiring, free art all summer long along the Southbank, which is sure to look extra sweet on sunny days.
Find out more via the Southbank website.