The Culture of Clubs & Cabarets - 'Into the Night' at the Barbican
The Barbican Centre presents a show about spaces of subversion, artistic exploration and fun! 'Into the Night' is an exhibition that explores the social and artistic role of cabarets, clubs, cafes and bars in modern art from cities across the world.
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| Recreation of the bar at Cabaret Fledermaus |
Shadow puppets suspended from the gallery ceiling cast their intricate shapes onto the gallery wall in a swirling, dreamy fashion. These figures are inspired by the puppet theatre of the iconic Parisian cabaret 'Chat Noir', perhaps the most famous of French cabarets.
This room is one of the four stage sets designed to be recreations of clubs from various cities from around the globe. The exhibition traverses the world of cabarets and clubs from the 1880s to the 1960s. Often underground, these places were free from social and political confines and became creative spaces where artists congregated. Within these establishments, norms of class, gender and identity could be subverted and reinvented.
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| Shadow puppets inspired by Chat Noir |
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| Chat Noir Poster |
In the next room is a recreation of the bar at Cabaret Fledermaus, and if you time it wisely, it becomes an actual bar serving real, classic cocktails. Following Cabaret Fledermaus is L'Aubette, which was an architectural complex decorated with vibrant geometric shapes that included bars, restaurants, ballrooms, a cabaret and more.
The final setting is the Mbari club in Ibadan, Nigeria, which was founded by leading cultural figures, such as Chinua Achebe (see below). A second club opened in Osogbo that also celebrated individual creativity, but was rooted in indigenous tradition.
The final setting is the Mbari club in Ibadan, Nigeria, which was founded by leading cultural figures, such as Chinua Achebe (see below). A second club opened in Osogbo that also celebrated individual creativity, but was rooted in indigenous tradition.
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| Mbari club in Ibadan |
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| Mbari club in Ibadan |
Elsewhere in the exhibition are other snippets from the sites of the avant-garde - the cafes of Mexico City that grew in the wake of the 1921 revolution, clubs in Rome influenced by the Futurist movement and the jazz scene of Harlem. In these parts of the exhibition, the visitor can view a bounty of vibrant posters, flyers, as well as some archival film footage of performances.
While it is difficult to fully recreate the atmosphere of these clubs, 'Into the Night' shows us dazzling glimpses of club-culture from a range of different cities at key points in time. The exhibition successfully reveals how cabarets, clubs, cafes and bars were the backdrop and stimulant of artistic expression, on- and off-stage.
While it is difficult to fully recreate the atmosphere of these clubs, 'Into the Night' shows us dazzling glimpses of club-culture from a range of different cities at key points in time. The exhibition successfully reveals how cabarets, clubs, cafes and bars were the backdrop and stimulant of artistic expression, on- and off-stage.
Tickets here:
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/event/into-the-night-cabarets-clubs-in-modern-art
* All content, including photos are my own