Parasol unit Review

Both the space and the exhibition are good galleries.

A dynamic and critically engaged programme of mid-career artists alongside an exciting roster of lesser known international practitioners. Definitely worth a visit and keeping up to date with their programme!

Easily one of the best contemporary galleries in London! A fantastic programme of diverse work, beautifully curated in this wonderful space. An absolute must see!

From an artist educators perspective, Parasol Unit showcases an interesting and varied selection of artists all curated with audience consideration - I am always particularly excited to see the changing site specific work in the outside garden space. Their free and low-fee education program is inclusive and works to engage the local community and beyond.

I am an artist educator running some of the youth workshops at Parasol Unit and also take other student groups there whenever I can! The foundation showcases tight and beautifully curated solo shows that give great insight into an artist's practice as well as very engaging group shows. It's an extremely accommodating space with very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Visitors feel intimately involved with the works in the exhibitions due to careful curation and information.

This Gallery offers an exciting curation of internationally recognised Artists and a diverse educational programme encouraging and supporting participants to dive more deeply into the Displays and Artist Practice. The gallery Building is also worth seeing and the Gallery Team are always willing to answer questions and help you enjoy your visit.

A Fantastic company and a really lovely group of people!

I've been here twice. The art was of high quality both times. Me and my friend sat here for a while analysing the displays. The guard staff was helpful too. Was allowed to take pictures.

One of my favourite contemporary art galleries in London! The Parasol Unit is a beautiful space, hosts great exhibitions and above all has lovely staff. Well worth a visit if you re in the area wandering along the canal.

Every exhibition is superbly curated and always makes you think. The space is an oasis just of the City Road and is well worth a visit!

Christine Rebet: Time Levitation
23 January 26 March 2020
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art presents as the final exhibition in its current London space, works by French artist Christine Rebet. This, her first solo show in the United Kingdom, will occupy two floors of the gallery and comprise six hand-drawn animated films that address the traumas of personal and collective histories, illusion and the destruction of our shared history and environment.

Drawing is at the heart of Rebet s practice, which she often develops into animated films, sculpture, installations or performance art. With a background in theatre design, Rebet presents many of her animated films within custom-built spaces and installed together with props to create an immersive environment. Working with the traditional techniques of early animation she explores the unconscious and creates tales that are both anti-heroic and satirical.

Can't wait to return! My daughter and I stopped by to check out the gallery. Buggies are not permitted in the exhibit, but their Education Coordinator (who I find myself feeling lucky to meet!) was so incredibly nice, she took the time to chat with me about the gallery and offered to watch my daughter for a few minutes so I could quickly browse around the first floor. We will definitely be going back soon.

The Parasol Unit Foundation for Contemporary Art is an educational charity and a not-for-profit contemporary art gallery based in London.

Contemporary gallery and performance space between the canal and City Road (the road behind the drive-in McDonalds). Free entry and a light and pleasant space on two (or more?) floors. I mostly though love the outside space which makes use of the water at the back, maybe a run-off from the canal, which is serene and gorgeous.

Unique art space in London showing international contemporary artist.

Interesting place tucked away in London, a good way to spend an hour or two look at some more recent art.

An excellent exhibition by Mnique Frydman.
The gallery space is wonderful.

What a beautiful and welcoming gallery. Really loved the time spent visiting the Rana Begum exhibition and will definitely return.

Posted on behalf of Participant - Lecturer Nigel Stewart
Movement + Drawing Workshop at Parasol on 15 July 2015.

I made a late decision to stay on in London for two extra nights to attend the workshop. I am glad that I did.

In establishing a score through which movement and drawing can take place (viz. the five frames , phases or concepts of horizon , ground , within , climb , and height ), the workshop was highly effective in bringing attention to how different perceptions of space can be conditioned by particular ways of moving within and inhabiting space. This certainly made a significant difference to the kinds of drawing that occurred. To take just the first two frames as an example, the act of walking forwards and backwards along the length of a long rectangular space to a wall, and then stopping to spontaneously draw what we perceived of the horizon on strips of paper that were placed across the width of the space at different intervals from the wall, was significantly different from the act of allowing our bodies to sink into the ground and then drawing from that lived experience of the weight of our own bodies. The difference could be noticed not just in my own drawings but in those of other workshop participants that I later observed.



Thirdly, the relationship between moving and drawing was not reciprocal, but only flowed from the former to the latter. It struck me that the five frames also sum up different dispositions that the dancer has towards space whilst dancing, and so I would very much have liked to have had time to improvise movement in response to, or as a continuation of, the act of drawing, or even to have used my drawing and/or the drawings of others as a score for physical action. To be fair, the fact that this time was lost was due more to the garrulous nature of the workshop participants as it was to Ed and Caroline s time management!

Finally, during the discussion some mentioned that far more time was needed for each frame. Certainly, an indication of the efficacy of the score is that it is clearly possible to spend several hours if not days on each frame, but I do not think it fair to say that we needed more time for each frame in this workshop in particular since it was clearly designed as a taster session, a salutary introduction to this fascinating practice of drawing and dancing. I would be keen to find out more, and to continue the conversation with Ed and Caroline. Thanks to them and to Parasol for the workshop.

This non profit institution shows some of the best curated Art in London. A must see. Free of charge.

Sometimes you walk into a place -like a wood, a memorable building, a cafe, a concert hall, a gallery- and you realise instantly that this is going to part of your life. Parasol Unit has become one of those places for me. How come I had never been before? Perhaps living in the West Country gives me an excuse. But now I am going to visit again and again and again. The welcome is warm and encouraging. You feel you've met a new friend. The galleries are amazing. Generously proportioned, filled with light, and offering an extraordinary view of a courtyard garden that is itself like an act of imagination. And the sensibility on display in the exhibitions and events is impeccable. I started at the top by choosing the Martin Puryear retrospective as the reason for my first visit. But I am confident that any other show I see at Parasol Unit will impress me and give me something to think about.

As an artist and educator working freelance at Parasol Unit for some years, I have always been impressed by the scope and quality of the exhibitions and the openness and support towards my creative projects for the community to participate in, within the beautiful building and gardens of the gallery.

I regularly visit Parasol Unit with my students from the Curation & Exhibition Management course at City University. Dr Ziba Ardalan provides a unique platform to international artists the British public is less familiar with. The exhibition she curates are well researched and presented, giving much food for thought and debate and the staff are kind and helpful, providing an excellent visitor experience. The students always feel stimulated and inspired after their visit.

Great exhibit by Hyon Gyon while I visited. The two stories of gallery space itself is very nice and open. There is also a bookshop / gift shop at the front of the gallery with books from artists who have had shows there in the past. Great spot!

Excellent gallery just off City Rd - free entry and plenty of interesting evening & weekend events, family activities and a wonderful restaurant within the same building. Nice find, 5 mins from Old St

Crisp and airy contemporary art space giving in depth exhibitions to a diverse range of artists. Worth popping in every couple of months to catch the latest show!

We had a fantastic time last week at the family works shop, the space was lovely, learnt new techniques and such great value will be back for sure.

A spectacular building with a breathtaking outside space that hosts beautifully curated, highly ambitious museum-quality exhibitions of international artists of the calibre of Robert Therrien and Monique Frydman.
Next door is another great gallery, Victoria Miro, and on the other side a very nice place to eat: Sardine.

Cool and stylish gallery space. Free entry. Clean toilets with luxury soap! Current Lisa Milroy exhibition can only be described as joyous and demands a second visit.

Light and airy space with incredible art! Definitely worth a visit

Interesting shows. You can combine with a walk along the canal and a visit to Victoria Miro next door. Open Sundays