Brent Biennial Curator Proposes Hyperlocal Model, Critiquing Global Biennial Circuit
From 8 July to 11 September, the second Brent Biennial, curated by Eliel Jones, emphasizes a hyperlocal perspective in northwest London. The curatorial team, which includes Adam Farah, Jamila Prowse, Abbas Zahedi, Kit Edwards, and Lauren Wright, seeks to connect with the Brent community instead of replicating global art happenings. Although Brent is London's second most ethnically diverse borough, it has historically received limited investment in the arts. This biennial stems from Brent's recognition as London's Borough of Culture in 2020 and will celebrate immigrant, feminist, and queer legacies, reflecting on a decade since the UK's Hostile Environment policy and the Nationality and Borders Bill. Themes of home and belonging will be explored, drawing on local histories such as Jayaben Desai's 1976 Grunwick walk-out.
Key facts
- The second Brent Biennial runs 8 July – 11 September 2022 in Brent, northwest London.
- Curator Eliel Jones leads a team including artists Adam Farah, Jamila Prowse, and Abbas Zahedi.
- The biennial originated from Brent's 2020 role as London's Borough of Culture, a Mayor of London initiative.
- Metroland Cultures, a charity from that legacy, runs the biennial as a core programme.
- This edition reflects on ten years since the UK's Hostile Environment policy and the current Nationality and Borders Bill.
- It highlights immigrant, feminist, and queer traditions, referencing Jayaben Desai's 1976 Grunwick lab strike in Willesden.
- Projects explore home and belonging through forms like songs, memories, and community groups.
- Jones critiques the 'biennial-industrial complex' and advocates for a hyperlocal model over global art world norms.
Entities
Artists
- Eliel Jones
- Adam Farah
- Jamila Prowse
- Abbas Zahedi
- Kit Edwards
- Lauren Wright
- Mari Spirito
- Michelle Lopez
- Jayaben Desai
Institutions
- Brent Biennial
- Metroland Cultures
- Mayor of London
- Ashkal Alwan
- Home Workspace Programme
- Protocinema
- Grunwick photo processing lab
Locations
- Brent
- London
- United Kingdom
- England
- Lebanon
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- New York
- United States
- Montreal
- Canada
- Philadelphia
- Berlin
- Germany
- Beirut
- Camden
- Westminster
- Wembley
- Kilburn
- Willesden
- Harlesden
- Chapter Road
- Independence National Park