Lubaina Himid's Cork Street Banners Explore the Language of Dress
Lubaina Himid has revitalized London's Cork Street with her installation, Reading the Label, which prompts reflection on the significance of clothing alongside the historic tailoring shops. The project showcases her artwork created over the past twelve years, emphasizing clothing as an understated medium of communication. This initiative coincides with her representation of the UK at the 61st Venice Biennale, where her exhibition, Predicting History: Testing Translation, will run at the British Pavilion until November 2026. Curated by Emma Dexter, the exhibition delves into themes of identity and the disparities between expectations and reality, marking a unique collaboration for Cork Street Galleries.
Key facts
- Lubaina Himid created a banner commission titled Reading the Label for Cork Street, London.
- The banners explore the language of dress and subvert the street's history of tailoring.
- Himid is representing Great Britain at the 61st Venice Biennale with Predicting History: Testing Translation at the British Pavilion until November 2026.
- The Venice exhibition is curated by Emma Dexter and commissioned by the British Council.
- Cork Street Galleries is supporting the British Pavilion as a partner, a first for an arts destination.
- Himid won the Turner Prize in 2017, the Maria Lassnig Prize in 2023, and the Suzanne Deal Booth Flag Art Foundation Prize in 2024.
- She is Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Art at the University of Central Lancashire.
- Himid's Thin Black Line exhibitions in the 1980s insisted on the visibility of Black women artists in British cultural life.
Entities
Artists
- Lubaina Himid
- Magda Stawarska
- Emma Dexter
Institutions
- Cork Street Galleries
- British Council
- British Pavilion
- University of Central Lancashire
- Turner Prize
- Maria Lassnig Prize
- Suzanne Deal Booth Flag Art Foundation Prize
- Artlyst
Locations
- Cork Street
- London
- United Kingdom
- Venice
- Italy
Sources
- Artlyst —