Shoes Off

“What you want to hear, you hear not. For what finds its way out from the underground and the out there is spoken in rhythms and tones, in a language that solicits a different hearing.” - Trinh T. Minh-ha, in Elsewhere, Within Here (2010) 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 is a curatorial project that examines Edouard Glissant’s concept of opacity through the framework of language—in its sound, text, narration, translation and censorship. In a group exhibition, we present a multidisciplinary dialogue of sculpture, performance, writing, moving image and textiles. Embracing illegibility over fluency, 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 exhibits the experiences of artists from the Southeast Asian diaspora through fragments of clarity and noise. Each work carries a phantasmological quality: sculpted, drawn, sewn or captured by hidden hands. Together, the artworks converse with one another across borders and tongues, embracing the multiplicities of national identity and lingua francas. Join us for our private view on Thursday 7 May, it will be a spring evening of picnicking, live sound and movement in Brunswick Park. Bring your own picnic blanket or share with a stranger. See you there! Stay tuned for more information on our performances and workshops. Refrains features the work of: Yadanar Aung (@chaosherechaosvomits ) Lu Lei (@sirenabovewater ) Arty Nicharee (@artynicharee ) Aarti Pillai (@aarti_paartiii ) Liszu Tan (@liszutan ) Moses Tan (@kickthatmo ) With performances by: Liszu Tan with Ezra Escobar (@ezraescobar_ ) Yadanar Aung With public programming by: Decoded Roots (@decoded_roots ) Stephanie Chung (@stephaniecck ) This exhibition is supported by Shoes Off (@weareshoesoff ), a growing collective and network of creatives based between the UK and Southeast Asia. 🎟️Free entry 📍outhouse gallery (@out.house.gallery ) Brunswick Park SE5 7RH London 💧 Exhibition open: 8 - 24 May 2026, Fri - Sun 12 PM - 5 PM *Correction: gallery opens at 12 PM and not 11 AM as stated in the poster. #shoesofflondon

Join us for the workshop 'The ABC of Translation', presented as part of the exhibition 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, curated by Charmaine Wah. In this workshop, we will meander through the folds of translation—hover, linger, as we unravel the layers, at once familiar and oddly askew. We will explore translation as laborious utterance, when one translates their interiority into transmissable codes; close reading, when translating words of an unfamiliar language into a definition in familiar language; or attentive listening, when attempting to read through the opacity in meanings. The workshop holds space for many languages. All are welcome, whatever tongues you bring. 🗓️ Sunday, 24 May | 3 - 4.30PM 📍෴𖥧𖤣𖥧෴ outside outhouse gallery, Brunswick Park, SE5 7RH 🎟 Free to attend. Donations welcome. 🔗 Link in bio - 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 is a curatorial project that examines Edouard Glissant’s concept of opacity through the framework of language—in its sound, text, narration, translation and censorship. This exhibition is curated by Charmaine Wah, with support from Shoes Off, a growing collective and network of creatives based between the UK and Southeast Asia. Private view: Thu, 7 May 2026 6PM - 9PM Exhibition open: Fri - Sun, 8 - 24 May 2026 12 PM - 5 PM Background image: 'This Little Art' by Kate Briggs

Come along to our intuitive writing workshop promoting the deconstruction of ‘proper language’ ✏️📚. Hosted by @decoded_roots for the exhibition, ‘Refrains on The Edge of Appearance’, curated by @charcharwah , supported by @weareshoesoff . Through the forceful dissemination of the English language, colonised people have been forced to adapt, censor and subdue their indigenous languages in the face of oppression. However, through this forceful adaptation, oppressed people have found ways to glitch language to retain autonomy, opacity and pay homage to their pre-colonial roots. Rotting English celebrates the deviations from standardised language, encouraging people to bring their patois, singlish, creole and more to the forefront of their writing. Ignore the structures that you have internalised through rigid education, and write in a way that comes innately to you. 📝 📆9th May, 2pm - 4pm 📍@outhouse gallery, Camberwell, London 🎟️ free tickets in bio (donations welcomed) ✍🏾 feel free to bring personal journals, pens, and picnic blankets! 🥂Exhibition Private View Thursday, 7th May 2026 6 PM - 9 PM 🖼️Exhibition Opening Hours Friday - Sunday, 8th May - 24th May 2026 11 AM - 5 PM

you didnt think we'd miss this trend, did you?

Representing Southeast Asian creatives in London means having a say in what art and culture looks like for the diaspora. Last year, we hosted a Puso Weaving Workshop (facilitated by @mono.chaotic and co-produced by @cebumakingspace ) and film screening (featuring short films by @chris.kitisakkul @sadnisrinart and @vahnpascual ) at @seeac_uk 's Culture Festival. Let's keep proving that traditional forms of craft can be accessible and that moving image can be a platform for everyone to explore identity beyond borders.

Snapshots from our inaugural show/open studio/social, Housewarming. Planned across multiple months, executed between 24 hours. What a labour of love to have witnessed this unfold with you. Thank you for popping by. Thank you for taking the time to talk. Thank you for sitting with us strangers. Photographs by the talented @mono.chaotic

SHOES OFF OPEN CALL 2026 Shoes Off is inviting Southeast Asian creatives, researchers and practitioners to be involved in 2026. Last year, we were able to collaborate with a small team of creatives to produce exhibitions, workshops, talks and publications, and we are keen to expand our reach and learn more about what Southeast Asians in London are capable of. Eligibility criteria - Based in London/Is able to regularly commute to London - Would identify as Southeast Asian or has Southeast Asian heritage - Would identify as a creative (e.g., visual arts, performance arts, research, culinary, etc.) If you are interested in joining our network, fill in the form by the deadline: 8th Feb 11am BST There is no pressure to give perfect answers or a polished portfolio/CV - we just want to get to know you and learn how being part of our community can support you. :) Have any questions? Send them over to [email protected] #opencall #artistopencall #londonopencall #london #artopencall

Happy New Year everyone!! 2025 was a year of many firsts for our collective~ Featured in our reel: 1. Our first group exhibition 👆🏻Housewarming, at Safehouse 2 2. A group risograph induction at House of Annetta 3. Our first festival! We had a film programme + puso weaving workshop at ESEA Cultural Festival. Organised by SEEAC 4. Our first food workshop! Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncake Workshop at House of Annetta We also supported: - Our first conference panel at the Philippine Studies Conference 2025: Repatriating Philippine Heritage - Our first duo exhibition, Silent Rituals, at hArtslane - Our first zine collaboration, Home Cinema, curated by Kind of Curation and distributed at the Horse Hospital In the past few months, we have been resting and reflecting, and slowly planning for another great year over shared meals. 🥰 In our first year as Shoes Off, thank you to everyone who has supported our humble collective in big and small ways. Special thanks to our collaborators who trusted us and believed in our work! 🥹 We can’t wait to share more of our stories and art with you in 2026! Please look forward to it~ 🫶🏻🫶🏻❤️❤️ #shoesofflondon

Throwback to early August with ‘Haptic Tactic’ at the Housewarming exhibition with @weareshoesoff , I’m now missing those warm, sunny days☀️ I’ll take a short break from running a workshop until early 2026 as now I’m preparing for a very important event coming up in mid November 👀 more updates coming soon!

We’re less than three weeks away from Home Cinema, a season of experimental films about and around the home, screening @thehorsehospital ! An aspect of this screening that I’m very excited about is the venue itself - dressed to look like a living room, which you, the audience, can take part in shaping. Whether that’s in moving seats and cushions around the way you like them, or bringing your own small pieces of home to adorn the space. You’re welcome to take your piece home at the end of the night, but also to swap it with another in the space — letting the films and space have a tangible impact on you, and leaving your own effect in return.  Every ticket to a screening comes with a zine, made in partnership with @weareshoesoff , a developing network and collective based across the UK and Southeast Asia. There's also a beautiful article by @alice.wootton . This zine is full of gorgeous photographs, articles and poetry, lovely meditations on the home that you can thumb through and keep.  Tickets to the screenings are available now via @thehorsehospital website or check link in bio 🔗 See you there! 📍Venue: The Horse Hospital, London   📅Dates: 18th, 19th and 20th November 2025 🕡Doors at 6:30p.m., programmes from 7-9:30pm 🏠The Programme: 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆 - 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 Home When You Return (2021) dir. Carl Elsaesser (with introduction from filmmaker!) A Ghost Story (2017) dir. David Lowery 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒘𝒐 - 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆 Living Inside (1989) dir. Sadie Benning Underscan (1973) dir. Nancy Holt Window Work (2000) dir. Lynne Sachs Poetry reading by @bidhyalimbuuu The Lacey Rituals (1973) dir. Bruce Lacey 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 - 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚 Water Sark (1965) dir. Joyce Wieland like a dog or a boat, you tether it (2018) dir. Myles Wheeler @itsamemyleo Q+A with Myles Wheeler

Thank you so much to everyone that came and made it to our opening night, to Monochaotic (@mono.chaotic ) and Faj (@fajrina.razak ) for the beautiful artwork and performances, and to our lovely photographer, Jannat Alam (@directedbyjannat ) for documenting the evening. Silent Rituals is open until the 2nd of Oct.

LIVE PROGRAMME: SILENT RITUALS 30 Sept - 2 Oct 2025 hArtslane 17 Harts Lane SE14 5UP @h.artslane Opening Night 30 Sept (4-8pm) Featuring: Monochaotic @mono.chaotic   Fajrina Razak @fajrina.razak Curated by: Francesca Inciong @cheskainciong *** 30 Sept 5pm - Participatory Performance by Fajrina Razak 6pm - Live Reading by Monochaotic 1 Oct 6pm - Participatory Performance by Fajrina Razak 7pm - Evening Viewing & Informal Discussions 2 Oct 4pm - Live Reading by Monochaotic 5pm - Closing Remarks & Casual Drinks