Elly-Belly explores motherhood, childhood and intergenerational cultural memory through sculpture, textile, sound and domestic forms. Drawing on Central Asian traditions of lullabies and caregiving, the exhibition considers how knowledge, gestures and cultural identity are transmitted between generations.

At the centre of the exhibition is the beshik, a traditional cradle that becomes a point of departure for thinking about the first environments surrounding the body. Alongside sculptural and textile works, a soundscape combines piano compositions with family recordings, including the voices and singing of four generations of women.

The exhibition brings together inherited forms, materials and voices, considering how cultural memory is carried forward, transformed and experienced through the body.

Credits:

Curator: Anzhela Popova

Soundscape: Cameron Spowart

Exhibition dates: November-December, 2024

Event:Kids workshop (paper-cuts and piano play)

Location:St.Margaret’s House

21 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PL, United Kingdom

Photo: Sergei Novikov