EMERGE Festival | Here-Now-Us

Here-Now-Us is a late night event featuring live music, spoken word performances and interactive installations as part of Emerge – London’s new afterhours festival. A unique night of artistic exploration, Here-Now-Us features a fierce lineup of young and exciting artists, with London trio Benin City – pulsing rave synths and Guardian's "one to watch" – headlining, supported by modern musical enigma Mina Rose, spoken word artist and award-winning poet Sanah Ahsan and rapper and theatre-maker John Akinde.

Taking place across the Nunnery Gallery's former convent's gothic arches and hidden outdoor courtyard, this one-off event aims to showcase some of London's freshest talent with a backdrop of arresting artwork, as the gallery also presents the 2019 Bow Open, curated by Carey Young whose selection responds to "our current political moment".

Benin City will be headlining in the Bow Arts Courtyard with a hook-laden blend of Afro-dance pop, hip-hop, spoken word and electronica that is both infectious and poignant; it's music for the dancefloor which has taken them to SXSW, The Great Escape and now Emerge. Supported by gripping, modern musical enigma Mina Rose, a multi-layered singer-songwriter with a visual arts background, who recently supported 2019 Brit Award winner Jorja Smith on tour; Sanah Ahsan, queer Pakistani Muslim womxn, trainee clinical psychologist, spoken word artist and published poet, who's worked with the BBC and Shakespeare's Globe and whose performance poetry recently won the Outspoken Prize 2019; and up-and-coming poet, rapper and theatre-maker John Akinde from London’s East End.

The Nunnery's current exhibition, the 2019 Bow Open Show, presents 19 artist's work that responds to “our current political moment", open to all definitions of ‘us’, of ‘time’, or, indeed, ‘politics’” in line with the exhibition's 'call to arms' from its curator, artist Carey Young. Themes explored include migration, gender identity, borders and climate change, and artists will be speaking about their processes, influences and inspirations through a series of five minute performances/explorations from 5-7pm. Also on show will be designer Yinka Ilori’s ‘Estate Playground’ – a playful installation featuring an interactive swing and see-saw; created for the London Design Festival 2017, this ‘adult’ playground features vivid colours and cultural cues from Ilori’s Nigerian heritage. Four vibrant flags will be flying by artist Emma Curd, made with Bow's local residents during Curd's ' ‘Visible Voices’ residency with Bow Arts, which marked the centenary of women's suffrage through a series of free workshops highlighting the importance of having and using our voices. Finally, the Nunnery's famous alleyway light sculpture by Matt Owen will be presenting a new light programme reflecting the electric energy of the evening.

Don't miss this explorative and stimulating night of performance and live music; interact with contemporary art in a way you never have before; enjoy a unique cocktail from our jazzy drinks menu run by the Nunnery Café; and feast on some of the best pizza in town from our very own pop-up pizza van.