Ruby Cruel

OPENING TONIGHT >>> THE THINGNESS OF STUFF featuring this sound work by Suren Seneviratne, electronic musician and artist. His ‘Missing Music’ project uses a collection of secondhand laptops and meticulously documented obsolete software, VST plugins and sound tools to create electronic music that bridges the past and present. A newly released cassette of this music release by Margate Electronics will be available to listen to in the exhibition.

The exhibition looks at the nature of obsession and gathering via personal collections and archives - and connections which form through these between seemingly unconnected ‘things.

Join us for the opening TONIGHT, January 13th 6-9pm. Ruby Cruel, 250 Morning Lane, London,
E9 6RQ. All welcome. No reservation needed.

Artists: Kate Carr, Noel Clueit, Luke Drozd, Alan Dunn, Graham Dunning, Joanne Lee, Mark Pawson, Suren Seneviratne, Maia Urstad.

Exhibition hours: Sat 14th, Sun 15th, Sat 21st & SUN 22nd, Feb, 2-6pm.

OPEN CRUEL TAKEAWAY TAKEOVER>>> I began my journey of photographing Chinese takeaways in May 2024, after peering through the steamy window of a Chinese takeaway on a cold rainy night. This gave me a huge pang of nostalgia which I couldn’t ignore. I have since reflected on my dual cultural identity through my art.

I’m loving this journey and will continue on my quest of photographing as many Chinese takeaways in London as I can.

Wouldn’t it be great if I photographed a total of 888 Chinese takeaways?! For people who are not familiar with the significance of the number 8 in Chinese culture, the number 8 (八, bā) is considered very lucky because it sounds similar to the word fā (發), which means wealth or prosperity, which I wish you all plenty of!

It’s been an absolute pleasure sharing my art with you on Ruby Cruel’s socials, and I hope you’ll continue following me on my adventures!

OPEN CRUEL TAKEAWAY TAKEOVER>>> I love the aesthetic of traditional Chinese takeaways. The colours my family chose for their takeaway signs were mostly yellow and red as these are vivid colours and look bright when illuminated, but also because red and yellow are considered as lucky colours in Chinese culture. Red is associated with happiness, good fortune and success and yellow is considered as the most prestigious colour and is often used to decorate royal palaces, places of worship.

Although there were some design features and decorations that were typical to most Chinese takeaways, my family were not keen on creating too much of a Chinese ambience in their takeaways for fear of racism or prejudice. They wanted their takeaway to be relatively easy to maintain but also fit in with the surrounding local shops.