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FRIDAY 19th March – SUNDAY 21st March 2021

Portrait of a community
BFI Player has been a screen saviour during lockdown, offering a diverse range of films, original content and independent productions. This week sees Renee Maria Osubu’s 2020 short documentary Dear Philadelphia join the stellar line-up. Premiered at Sundance, the project hones in on three African-American fathers each with their own inspiring story. Cast in stunning black-and-white cinematography, these individual portraits combine as part of a wider picture – a resilient and passionate community finding joy in difficult circumstances.

Watch Dear Philadelphia on BFI Player.

Consider, create and contribute
Online exhibitions have become a mainstay of lockdown escapism, with galleries seeking out new ways to present artwork over distance. This week has seen Somerset House’s Young Producers collective launch their latest project, DECENTRALISE, which invites visitors to click through a deep-dive of work from, and inspired by, the institution’s past exhibitions showcasing Black British art.

Spanning Afro-nowism, Afrofuturism, political arts and disobedient objects, the interactive catalogue serves as a diverse resource addressing what it means to be Black and British. Plus, if the inspiration hits, you can create and contribute your own artistic creations using the DECENTRALISE image archive.

Explore Somerset House’s DECENTRALISE now.

A Korean Master
Chances are you’re not familiar with Korean artist Park Seo-bo, but you should be. Not only is the 89 year-old painter one of the most acclaimed Korean artists of all time, White Cube have just opened their online exhibition of Seo-bo’s work, the largest ever to be shown in this country. The first thing that strikes you about Seo-bo’s paintings is their powerful sense of magnetism. This is the kind of art that invites you to stand nose-to-canvas and meditate on its pulsating energy.

In Seo-bo’s Ecriture series especially (the artist’s pencil-based series for which he is arguably best known), the sense of stored kinetic energy is at its most potent. Often completed within a single sitting and combining pencil strokes with oils, these works channel the self-discipline and spiritual flow of scholar-monks seen in ancient Korean tradition.

Park Seo-Bo at White Cube is now live online until 1 May 2021 and, subject to UK government guidelines, will open at White Cube Bermondsey from 13 April to 1 May 2021. 

There’s more to Ireland dan dis
So this year’s St Patrick’s Day will be a more subdued affair, sadly, but there’s still plenty of revelries to be had. One slightly unconventional way to celebrate is by ordering one of Homeslice’s new limited-edition “black and gold” pizzas created especially for the patron saint of Ireland – rumours state that he loved an extra-cheesy one. Inspired by Irish grub, this pizza comes topped with Clonakilty black pudding, Guinness-braised onions, potatoes, mozzarella and cheese shavings from Cork. Wash it all down with plenty of Guinness for top Paddy’s weekend Craic.

Order your St Patrick’s Day Homeslice pizza here.