Beams London to showcase Thin Air exhibition

Thin Air is a groundbreaking exhibition of experiments in art and technology with emerging and established contemporary talent.

Image: 404.Zero, 3.24, photography Jesse Hunniford

Thin Air at Beams is a must-visit for art enthusiasts and those interested in the intersection of art and technology. Taking advantage of over 55,000 square feet of interconnecting environments, the exhibition brings together the works of seven global contemporary artists and collectives, including James Clar, Matthew Schreiber, Kimchi and Chips, 404.zero, Robert Henke, and The UCLA Arts Conditional Studio, each exploring the hidden complexities that shape the world we live in through light, atmospherics, sound, and experimental new media.

Curated by digital artist and curator Alex Czetwertynski and produced in collaboration with arts and culture consultancy That Right There, Thin Air is the first visual arts programme at Beams, a new cultural venue created, developed and conceptually delivered by Broadwick Live, the group behind some of the UK’s most ambitious and acclaimed venues, events, and creative development projects.

Image: Matthew Schreiber, Double Gemini

The exhibition features site-specific adaptations of existing works and new installations on a monumental scale, with artists interacting with the cavernous space to create a unique exhibition layout. Visitors can expect to see James Clar's new installation Cleanse/Mantra (110hz), which allows stimulation, creativity and meditation through frequencies that induce trance and heightened imagination, as well as Matthew Schreiber's new work, in which hundreds of lasers connect all dimensions of Beams with light, atmospheric haze and geometric space. Other highlights include an installation by Seoul-based collective Kimchi and Chips, featuring a film produced in collaboration with Rosa Menkman on site at Beams, inspired by spectacle, illusion and the semi-material mode of existence.

Image: Kimchi and Chips, Light Barrier 2, photography Hanneke Wetzer

International stage and lighting design studio S E T U P will also be transforming the space using light, architectural design, and optical effects, creating ever-shifting boundaries in light and shadow.

Thin Air is committed to raising funds for local community projects, including Community Food Enterprise, local food banks, and other initiatives. They are also offering free tickets to local schools and the local community. In 2022, £10,000 was raised, and Beams is committed to continuing this work in 2023 and beyond. The exhibition showcases the commitment of Beams to be an inclusive, experimental, and exciting art space in London.

Date: 17 March – 4 June 2023. Location: The Beams, Factory Rd, E16 2HB. Price: from £20. Concessions available. Book now.