DAVID SHILLINGLAW - KEEP SMILING KIOSK @Scream Gallery

A SITE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATION CREATED AND ATTENDED BY THE ARTIST

WEDNESDAY 25TH TO FRIDAY THE 27TH NOVEMBER

SCREAM LONDON GALLERY - 27-28 EASTCASTLE STREET, LONDON W1W 8DH

Presented as a tea-house and pop-corn dispensary, people are invited to join the artist in his tea temple, relax and enjoy tasty refreshments. The work highlights the daily rituals we all undertake in order to feel better, and make others around us feel better. The history of tea drinking is a universal language of welcoming and connecting, touching on both the domestic and the spiritual ceremonies that can be found in every culture throughout the world. Shillinglaw spins this out in his own colourful language, playing games with where real life ends and the Art begins.

“I am creating a space for people to relax, play games and ask questions. This is an access point to enter my art, I celebrate the opportunity to give things away, to connect with people. I am interested in the ingredients of what it means to be human. We are all made of the same things, we all need the same things, and I am constantly reminded of how so many people don’t have these basic ingredients. The Kiosk attempts to bridge the space between the audience and the art”

"David is a mind adventurer, where the left half of the brain explores
the right one. Unanswered, impulsive, instinctive and restless - David
doesn't paint or draw, he creates time... The result is a powerful and
fresh interpretation of everyday reality. His art has the appeal of Pop
but a friendly, subtle, self effacing Pop that presents the ordinary and
delights the viewer when he shows that you have your best conversation
with yourself." - Jaybo Monk_

"I am creating a space for people to relax, play games and ask
questions. This is an access point to enter my art, I celebrate the
opportunity to give things away, to connect with people. I am interested
in the ingredients of what it means to be human. We are all made of the
same things, we all need the same things, and I am constantly reminded
of how so many people don't have these basic ingredients. The Kiosk
attempts to bridge the space between the audience and the art".

David will be operating his kiosk on each of the three evenings, sharing
free cups of 'Keep Smiling' tea and popcorn with his audience, the
curious and anyone willing to share conversation and positivity. All
that he asks in return is a happy or helpful thought, a tip or doodle,
to be traded with him at the 'POSITIVE PROPAGANDA COLLECTION POINT' - a
growing wall of everyone's pinned contributions and participation in the
ceremony, displayed alongside David's kiosk.

ARTIST TIMES & TALKS
The times that David will be present at his kiosk performing his tea
ceremony are below. On each day David will be talking about a different
aspect of his installation as follows:

* Wednesday 25th November // 5pm - 7pm // The history of social
drinking
* Thursday 26th November // 6pm - 8pm // The importance of play
* Friday 27th November // 5pm - 7pm // What we are made of (the recipe
and ingredients of being a human being)

The event will also be the launch of David's 'KEEP SMILING' NEWSPAPER -
what will become a regular journal charting his physical and
psychogeographical journeys across the globe and the mantra he will be
spreading. Tips and doodles given to David as part of the tea ceremony
will be used in the next edition of his paper.
Copies of the first issue of the newspaper will be available for free,
with a donation to charity encouraged. David will also be further
customising and signing 100 of the newspapers to create an exclusive and
very limited edition for people to purchase at the event and for David
to personalise live for them.