Nine people were assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews and two people were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation News | London Three people have been rescued from the roof of a flat in Whitechapel after an e-bike battery burst into flames London Fire Brigade has issued an urgent safety warning after a fire tore through an apartment building on Whitechapel Road in Whitechapel on Thursday Firefighters used a 32 metre turntable ladder to rescue three people from the roof of the property while six other people left the flat before crews arrived Nine people were assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews and two people were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation as a precaution The fire is believed to have been caused by a lithium-ion battery pack Tony Jackson, Station Commander at Whitechapel Fire Station, said e-bikes were becoming one of London’s “fastest-growing fire risks” and can be “incredibly dangerous” when they have been converted or modified in some way He said: “Firefighters worked professionally to bring three people to safety and ensure that no one was seriously hurt in this fire “E-bikes are one of London's fastest-growing fire risks and this incident is another example that we’re seeing in London of the risks that e-bike batteries can pose “One of the residents opened a bedroom door to find thick smoke inside which we know from lithium battery fires is extremely toxic.” where a battery has been fitted to a normal pedal bike A conversion should be carried out by a professional or competent person Terrifying moment fire rips through Bethnal Green flats as residents scream for help Woman fights for life after car hits cafe in Upper Street as police arrest driver New research suggests voter ID law 'significantly reduces' turnout Meet the entrepreneur turning plastic waste into something wonderful we urge people to store it outside or in a location such as a shed if they can,” he added ensure it’s not stored or being charged on an escape route keep it in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire “When you’re charging your e-bike or e-scooter make sure you’re not doing it when you’re sleeping or leaving it unattended Use the correct charger and don’t overcharge the battery.” VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason PLANS to make Whitechapel a leader in life sciences took another step closer to becoming a reality last night (Wednesday 12 March) as plans to redevelop the site of a disused two-storey office building were given the go-ahead The existing building at 100 Cavell Street will be demolished to make way for a new building ranging from 5 to 9 storeys Members of the Strategic Planning Committee approved the application subject to planning conditions and obligations This application follows permission for a world class life sciences cluster on vacant plots next to the Royal London Hospital The application site is located within the Whitechapel South Site Allocation the Whitechapel Local Employment Location (LEL) and GLA’s City Fringe Opportunity Area It will provide 9,475sq.m of purpose-built floorspace for life sciences Life science is the study of living organisms including a wide range of disciplines like biology The floorspace will include ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ laboratory space drugs or other material or biological matter are tested and analysed while dry is used for data analysis and report writing The wet labs will be of common use in the UK and governed by the Health and Safety Executive Plans also include affordable workspace (with a discount of up to 50 per cent for local people) to support the need for space for small and medium-sized enterprises in the research technology and medical sector for life sciences A Knowledge Centre will be built on the ground floor and used for seminars education and exhibitions related to science This will be free to use at evenings and weekends by local community groups for science applicants will also fund £200,000 worth of community STEM activities and make contributions worth £300,000 towards the Council’s Education Maintenance Allowance and £300,000 towards the Council’s University Bursary Award specifically for Tower Hamlets students studying STEM subjects.  View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all View all Tower Hamlets councillors have gone against their own officers and given the thumbs-up to a controversial Foster + Partners’ 41,000m² tower scheme in Whitechapel Planners at the east London authority had recommended refusal for the 17-storey office-led scheme on the City fringe site between Whitechapel High Street and Commercial Road lower scheme for the same 0.67ha plot in the Whitechapel High Street Conservation Area The borough’s officers had said that the latest application’s benefits would not ‘outweigh the harm to designated heritage assets’ adding that it did ‘not represent high quality or place-sensitive design by virtue of its layout They also feared the 82.5m-tall scheme – which went against the council’s development plan – would not ‘respect or integrate positively with the finer-grained low to medium-rise context of the site’ and would have ‘adverse effects on existing residents and the learning environment at Canon Barnett Primary School’ However, following a site visit, members of the council’s strategic development committee unanimously voted last night (15 January) that they were minded to approve the application Councillors said that the scheme would ‘more effectively’ use the site in an area which already ‘has a lot of tall buildings around it’ and would remove an existing car park In 2022 councillors had turned down a previous application featuring a 14-storey block because they had concerns over the scheme’s height its daylight and sunlight effects on neighbours and the ‘harm to the setting’ of the nearby Charles Harrison Townsend-designed Grade II*-listed Whitechapel Gallery Refused 2022 scheme (left); latest 'minded to approve' scheme (right) Foster + Partners returned last year with a fresh application for the same developer which is overseeing the rejig of Canon Barnett Primary School within the development plot Although the latest scheme is now three storeys taller and has a larger footprint The Edwardian façade at 102-105 Whitechapel High Street would be kept The 2024 scheme promises to create 3,260 jobs provide incubator spaces for small and medium-sized businesses and includes a relocated and expanded playground for the primary school But the changes did not allay the fears of either heritage campaigners or Historic England and Tower Hamlets’ planning officers are also unconvinced The scheme has also prompted 294 objections Speaking before last night's meeting SAVE Britain’s Heritage conservation officer Lydia Franklin said that an ‘office block towering 17 storeys above its neighbours is not what this area needs’ adding that ‘a building of this scale would tear through the conservation area which was created to draw a clear line between the bristling towers of the City fringe and the very different character of the historic East End’ Franklin decribed the councillor's decision as  'a blow to the local community who have consistently and strongly pushed back against these controversial plans which are oversized and unnecessarily destructive' A tall building here would make a mockery of conservation area protection She told the AJ: ‘Conservation areas are created to protect our historic environment and guide development in a particular context A tall building in this location would make a mockery of these protections and erode this area’s unique character.’ Historic England had said it could not support the plans claiming the height and massing ‘would starkly contrast with the human scale’ of the surrounding buildings It said the ‘robust Victorian commercial character’ of the retained façade of 2-4 Commercial Street ‘would be significantly undermined by the overbearing presence of the 18-storey building immediately behind and partly cantilevering over’ the frontage Haverstock and South Street Asset Management have been contacted for comment Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… The information on this page is intended for journalists If you click NO you will come back to Mynewsdesk.com Met officers have arrested four suspected drug dealers as part of work to tackle serious and organised crime in Whitechapel 19 March as part of an investigation into drug supply around Altab Ali Park Build which is designed to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by crime by focusing on what matters most to locals the Met's neighbourhood policing lead for Tower Hamlets "Tackling drug supply is a priority for us as we know it's often linked to other offences such as robbery and violent crime we aim to reduce offending and improve the quality of life for residents "The operation followed months of planning by local officers who have been listening to people in Whitechapel to understand what matters most to them we are focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to communities to reduce offending and improve neighbourhoods." Altab Ali Park has a rich history and cultural significance within Tower Hamlets and the aim is to return it to a location which residents businesses and visitors by reducing crime and anti-social behaviour The work with Tower Hamlets Council is helping to clear the area of gangs using a range of tactics such as police and council enforcement officer patrols as well as engagement with community members and local businesses the Met and the council held a joint event at Altab Ali Park to update the community on the work taking place as part of Clear Targeted action has led to a significant reduction in violent crime and drug offences Working together we have achieved the following results since last November in Altab Ali Park and the surrounding area: - Fewer neighbourhood crimes - Class A drugs and illicit cash removed from the streets "Improving community safety is one of the main concerns expressed to us by many residents which is why we're investing £8m to make our borough a safer space Our Anti-Crime Task Force provides a new collaborative community safety model for us to work in partnership with the police to address these issues “This work aims not only to tackle organised crime around Altab Ali Park but also to ensure this remains a space residents can enjoy Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the police council-funded police officers and Tower Hamlets Enforcement officers we are already beginning to see positive results.” Share your thoughts and experiences about crime and safety in Altab Ali Park and help shape our work by taking part in a quick anonymous survey. Complete the survey here Build (CHB) is a three-phase framework developed by the Home Office that uses a problem solving and data-driven approach to improve the local response in tackling Serious and Organised Crime threats in a specific location ‘Clear’ means targeted activity and crime disruption working with partners; ‘Hold’ means stabilising the area to stop criminals moving in to fill the void; and ‘Build’ means community-driven action to address the causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again CHB also tackles vulnerabilities (drivers of crime) within communities and those being exploited Improved neighbourhood policing was one of the reasons the Met was removed from special measures His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services also praised improvements to call handling and a 17-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin Media enquiries only - newsdesk@met.police.uk For all other contact with the Metropolitan Police please visit www.met.police.uk call 101 or in an emergency always call 999 When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services. 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All rights reserved The homelessness charity celebrates its 50th birthday next year the office blocks and Victorian buildings thin to one-storey warehouses and closed-down corner pubs: poor bulwarks against late December winds whipping in off the docks By the time I reach the Whitechapel Centre’s donation drop-off point on Blackstock Street as he leads me past intimidating hillsides of clothing donations shows me a small pile of Nivea gift packs – all that’s left from what had been a plastic pallet mountain of toiletry essentials which could have lasted Whitechapel’s clients until next Christmas “And they made off with all the chocolate that we buy in for our regular food parcels “The only saving grace is that the IT equipment is so ancient even the thieves didn’t want it,” says Ruth as she shows me the ransacked back office still housing a functioning computer It’s never a good time for a charity to be robbed but this time of year is particularly egregious started in 1975 to meet the needs of Liverpool’s homeless but also thanks to people donating from their winter surplus Tidying up after a break-in is just another chore amidst gathering pressures “4,800 individuals came through our doors last year,” David Carter “Which was a 10% increase on the year before David is keen to stress it’s not a linear rise “Homelessness means different things to different people: those who are sofa-surfing people who are in supported accommodation or hostels represent the biggest increase: a 33% rise we counted 192 people bedding down on the streets in Liverpool Although the gender breakdown of homeless people in Liverpool as a whole – 70% male David says Whitechapel has also seen a worrying increase in women sleeping rough as well as escaping from domestic violence I can’t help but think of the chill that crept into my winter clothing on the way here still not completely dispelled by a hot drink it’s difficult not to be at once grateful for people’s generosity and angry that such measures are necessary in the world’s sixth largest economy is the continuing housing crisis,” David continues we’re only as good as the solutions we can find for people There’s an absolute dearth of accommodation – of social housing That means people are staying with us longer.” Having worked for Whitechapel for 28 years does David get disheartened when he sees the figures rise “Everybody who comes here comes here for a reason Staff work in this sector because they want to help those in need but what you can do is guarantee a same-day solution.” David points to the No Second Night Out initiative that aimed to rapidly respond to any report of a rough sleeper with at least temporary accommodation so that they did not spend more than one night on the streets But the housing crisis has meant that initiative has been put under pressure – the centre can no longer guarantee someone need only suffer a single night of rough sleeping a harm reduction service for men over 35 who wish to manage their alcohol usage and their Pathways scheme aimed at tackling drug and alcohol dependency which is delivered in partnership with Liverpool City Council and the NHS and addiction charity We Are With You “Sometimes it’s not about just having the emergency provision available That’s what we aspire to: to give people what they need You want to match people to the right pathway at the right time.” David tells me that 54% of their clients are drug or alcohol dependent with a large crossover with the 61% dealing with mental health problems – often undiagnosed but potentially so are nitazenes — synthetic opioids hundreds of times stronger Another concern in Liverpool is with the rise of synthetic cannabinoids like Spice which again can exacerbate mental health crises “There’s no methadone equivalent for Spice,” David explains referring to the prescription substitute for heroin the Whitechapel staff take all this in their stride David is even philosophical about the theft — to him the fact someone would break into a charity’s distribution centre is just further demonstration of how desperate some people are and the byzantine access points for mental health provision on the NHS present far more of a challenge to the staff’s professionalism But they couldn’t do any of it without the help and generosity of everyday people whether that comes in the form of donations or volunteers with adequate winter clothing and a warm destination that mongrel emotion of gratitude and despair bites harder than the cold I make my usual Christmastime pledge to do more or give more the one that usually runs out when I’m skint about mid-January GoFundMe recently named Liverpool the most generous city by donations per capita But that selflessness is now more needed than ever If you would like to donate to The Whitechapel Centre, their website has a list of food, toiletries, bedding, household items, and pet supplies they need (as well as what they already have plenty of) here You can also donate to The Whitechapel Centre by card or set up a direct debit here If you’d like to become a volunteer, please visit here If you do see anyone rough-sleeping, you can help The Whitechapel Centre find accommodation for them by calling 0300 123 2041, emailing, or completing this online form The Whitechapel Library courtyard entrance will be closed from Monday 10 March until Tuesday 06 May Entrance being used for Whitechapel Library from Monday 10 March until Tuesday 06 May The entrance on Stepney Way will be open with Whitechapel Library operating as normal Users will still need their ID card to enter the Library If users require step free access to Whitechapel Library please contact the Library Services Welcome Desk on 020 7882 2561 where we will arrange entry please contact security on 020 7882 2599 where they will be able to assist.  As the entrance is being closed for this period the bike racks will also be unavailable so please use the racks outside of the Garrod Building Any bikes left at the Whitechapel Library will need to be removed before Monday 10 March otherwise users may be unable to access them until the courtyard entrance reopens.  Welcome to bdonline.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy By 2025-01-16T12:19:00+00:00 Patel Taylor’s plans for 35-storey Isle of Dogs tower also given council backing Foster & Partners' revised plans for the 2-6 Commercial street scheme in Whitechapel A decision on a long-delayed office tower in Whitechapel designed by Foster & Partners has been deferred for a second time after councillors ignored the advice of planning officers to reject the proposals In the latest twist to plans which have been on the books since 2018 six Tower Hamlets councillors said they were minded to approve the 17-storey scheme at 2-6 Commercial Street A final decision will now be taken at a future committee meeting to allow planning officers to assess issues raised at the meeting and draw up planning conditions in a fresh report The 41,000sq m proposals were on the agenda for the council’s planning committee last month but a decision was deferred to allow a site visit Councillors said in yesterday evening’s committee meeting that the scheme would be an effective use of the site and would reduce anti-social behaviour in the area including alleged drug dealing activity Previous Foster & Partners’ proposals for the site They also said that despite the site not being located in a designated tall building zone the impact of the building’s height would be lessened as it was close to several existing tall buildings The vote was criticised by campaign group Save Britain’s Heritage Conservation Officer for the group Lydia Franklin said the decision was a ”blow to the local community who have consistently and strongly pushed back against these controversial plans which are oversized and unnecessarily destructive She added: ”The current buildings are crying out for maintenance and we would welcome a proposal for office space on this prominent corner that reuses and restores them “Conservation areas are created to protect our historic environment and guide development in a particular context A tall building in this location would make a mockery of these protections and erode this area’s unique character.” The scheme was a redesign of a previous application for the site designed by Foster & Partners for a shorter, 14-storey building that was rejected in 2021 due to concerns over its height and impact on nearby heritage assets. the new proposals would retain the frontage of an existing building on the site while its massing would be stepped back compared to the original application councillors voted to back the officers’ recommendation to approve a 35-storey residential building designed by Patel Taylor at the same committee meeting The 1 Selsdon Way scheme on the Isle of Dogs will see the demolition of an existing office building and the construction of 307 homes It will take the form of a four-storey podium topped by a slender triangular tower faced with a yellow-coloured brick cladding Patel Taylor’s proposals for 1 Selsdon Way were approved yesterday evening Coastal scheme located at popular surfing spot Twin towers the practice’s fourth major project in the Philippines Expanding practice inks deal after running out of space at its nearby UK headquarters The centre will contain buildings up to nine storeys in height Plans designed by Gensler for a £1bn cancer research and treatment centre in south London have been submitted for planning by developers Aviva Capital Partners and Socius Retrofit of 150 Aldersgate includes new terraces a reconfigured entrance and a public art installation Howells also scoops two awards for Birmingham office scheme and a cafe at a grade I-listed country house Site powered by Webvision Cloud Welcome to building.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy A festival focused on the future of digital construction By 2024-11-15T07:00:00+00:00 East End scheme has been masterplanned by Allies and Morrison Tower Hamlets Council has approved an Allies and Morrison masterplan that aims to transform a series of outdated buildings and unused sites near the Royal London Hospital into a life sciences district The Whitechapel Road development totals 80,000 sq m comprising six new and repurposed buildings between three and 13 storeys in height. Allies and Morrison designed the masterplan and four of the buildings with the remaining two designed by Gibson Thornley the development will offer lab-enabled commercial workspaces educational facilities and new public spaces with the intention of establishing Whitechapel as a life sciences hub The project team includes structural engineer AKTII planning consultant DP9 and cost consultant T&T Alinea The project will accommodate a range of life sciences and public health organisations from small start-ups to larger enterprises The masterplan incorporates new green spaces and pedestrian-friendly streets including a “green spine” of planted pathways This layout will support local pedestrian traffic and remove vehicle access from some areas around the hospital The site is located within the London Hospital Conservation Area and close to listed structures – including the former Royal London Hospital “We have been working closely with a broad range of stakeholders for over six years and I am thrilled that our life science cluster proposals have been approved by Tower Hamlets,” said Hayden French director and head of workplace at Allies and Morrison “The Whitechapel Road project will be transformational for the East End bringing extensive new and improved public spaces a group of contextual and responsible workplace buildings and an ecosystem of new businesses to supplement the already rich and diverse Whitechapel neighbourhood.” With its proximity to major transport links the development is anticipated to strengthen Whitechapel’s connection to the broader London life sciences sector Buildings within the masterplan range from a four-storey block facing Whitechapel Road to a taller 13-storey life sciences building featuring ground-floor public spaces Additional structures include smaller facilities for emerging life sciences firms and a pavilion designed as a gateway to the area’s green spaces Bilbao Guggenheim architect’s only UK project set to be extended with cosntruction starting this year Megaproject’s chief operating officer shares update on first phase of 170km scheme and neighbouring port city Proposed BTR scheme to include a cultural venue and student accommodation as part of the final phase of the £1.5 billion redevelopment DESNZ will boost green skills under its Warm Homes Plan through financial awards  Former Interserve subsidiary posts turnover of £542m for 2024 150 Aldersgate was fully pre-let to social media giant prior to completion and includes new terraces Whitechapel Market has been crowned Best Large Outdoor Market at the 2025 Great British Markets Awards (GBMA).  A longstanding cultural centre at the heart of historic Whitechapel Whitechapel Market was commended for its innovative approach to supporting young traders and its dedication to sustainability and community partnerships.  Whitechapel Market has centuries of history with records of the farmers selling animal feed at the Whitechapel hay market from 1665.   The area has also been a significant landing spot for newcomers to London including as a central location for the Jewish community from the late nineteenth century and then as a hub for the Bangladeshi community from the 1970s.   the 6-day-a-week market has over 80 traders and is the go-to destination for locals to purchase fresh produce Beyond its centrality to the local community and historic importance Whitechapel Market has focused on supporting young and new traders starting businesses hosting the National Market Traders Federation’s Young Traders Market in 2024 for three days with 16–30-year-olds selling their goods as part of a national competition.   The market has also welcomed young secondary school students as part of the Know Your Onions campaign to sell their home grown produce and hosted a three-day art exhibition from a local artist showcasing her Women of Whitechapel work.    in partnership with Tower Hamlets GP Care Group and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care also recently offered free health checks to traders during their working hours helping to care for members of our community who make the market such a significant and iconic place.   “I’ve been trading 13 years in this market – I’m very happy to win this award.” “I've been working in Whitechapel Market for 23 years and I'm really happy working as a self-employed trader here and the traders are very friendly as well.” Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency “Whitechapel Market is a hub of history and community – and it’s only getting better.  the council has worked in partnership with traders and the wider community investing £9.3m to improve market infrastructure while enhancing the public realm around the market.    “With our passionate traders and the larger supportive community we know that the market will continue to thrive with new offerings popping up alongside the traditional stalls additional innovative ways to get the community involved and more investment into a sustainable future for generations to come.”   hosted by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) celebrate the outstanding contributions of markets to local communities Petticoat Lane Food Court was recognised as the Best Specialty Market by GBMA Whitechapel Market was one of two historic and vibrant markets in Tower Hamlets collected awards at the 2025 GBMA on Thursday Columbia Road Flower Market was also crowned Best Small Market at the recent awards.  You can find Whitechapel Market on Whitechapel Road By 2025-03-13T12:21:00 But council warned conservation area may need to be reviewed if controversial 17-storey scheme is built A conservation area in Whitechapel may have to be reviewed following a decision by councillors to approve a Foster & Partners office tower which breaches local development policy Councillors at Tower Hamlets voted unanimously to approve Fosters’ long-delayed plans for the 17-storey building at  2-6 Commercial Street yesterday evening at the scheme’s fourth planning committee hearing Existing Subscriber? LOGIN REGISTER for free access on selected stories and sign up for email alerts Subscribe to Building Design and you will benefit from: Tower Hamlets has approved plans for a new world class life sciences cluster to be built in Whitechapel A number of vacant buildings and plots next to the Royal London Hospital will be redeveloped and brought back into use and one existing building will be retained creating nearly 70,000 sqm of floor space for life sciences use The redevelopment will also include a spaces that can be used by the community and local schools to promote career opportunities in life sciences The development is part of the on-going regeneration of Whitechapel and is expected to create employment and training opportunities and the potential for up to 4,180 full-time jobs said: “This is a boost for Whitechapel and the latest in a series of developments in the area that is putting Whitechapel on the map as a go-to area of London “The development will benefit local people now but it will also be a boost for the future “If our young people can see a world-class facility on their doorstep it will help inspire our next generation of scientific talent.” Members of the Strategic Development Committee approved the application at a meeting last week (Wednesday 9 October) including that the site will provide space for education and health activities and an outreach programme for local schools and colleges Financial contributions totalling £6.9 million have also been agreed including £2.5m towards community health and wellbeing projects and programmes and £1.7m towards employment skills and training initiatives there will be improvements to the streets around the site to make them more pedestrian and cycle friendly tree planting and a new public square between the hospital and St The application will now be referred to the Mayor of London before a final decision is issued Titled Hymns In Dissonance, the upcoming album from the American deathcore band is the follow-up to 2021’s Kin and is scheduled to be released in March this year “There is nothing nice about Hymns In Dissonance to the overall vibe of the album,” says guitarist Alex Wade of the upcoming album “We attempted to write our heaviest album to date We wanted to put out something that was shockingly menacing and brutal The album follows the story of a cultist who is gathering worthy people to join his cult and there are moments in the storyline where the cult followers are singing an evil hymn to open a portal for the head cultist to enter.” “Hymns In Dissonance is a mockery of the true nature of what hymns are,” vocalist Phil Bozeman explains Dissonance is the opposite of melody and harmony Tracks one and two are the introduction.” Alongside the announcement of the new album, WHITECHAPEL have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming album; the title track Hymns In Dissonance. The new song is the second single to be released from the upcoming album, following on from A Visceral Wretch “it’s about [the storyline’s cultist] building his cult of followers: Only the most heinous and vile people on the planet showing their devotion to their lord and the leader showcasing his power and his purpose to commit the seven cardinal sins to resurrect their lord Hymns In Dissonance has a few riffs and tweaks thrown in by the rest of us He can churn out some pummeling riffs and it‘s one of the best songs on the album because he had a vision for the whole song with the riffs and vocals It’s tuned to Drop G which we have been using since the self-titled LP but the ending breakdown shifts down one whole step to Drop F Having the final breakdown shift lower than the rest of the song really helped the end have the crushing feeling it needed.” Watch the official music video for Hymns In Dissonance here:  you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming new album below: For more information on WHITECHAPEL like their official page on Facebook This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Check if you already have access from your company or university With a MRW subscription you’ll get access to: deathcore stars Whitechapel triumph in darkness on nasty ninth album… Deathcore tends to discourage notions like subtlety or progression, but recent years have seen Whitechapel developing in unexpected ways. Their last two records, 2018’s The Valley and 2021’s Kin, pitched the Knoxville sextet into curiously radio-friendly territory. Acoustic guitars were glimpsed; Shinedown were invoked as a comparison All that is swept away on Hymns In Dissonance an exercise in returning to what guitarist Alex Wade describes as “ignorantly heavy music” downtuned riffs slam and frontman Phil Bozeman entirely jettisons the melodies he’s been incorporating for the last few albums – as well as being the title of this outing’s first single A Visceral Retch could be written on his vocal moodboard while recent work has focused on personal trauma using an imaginary cult to frame songs based around the seven deadly sins but here it’s surely no deeper than a conviction that evil subjects are cool there is plenty here that delivers knuckleheaded thrills but Whitechapel’s ninth album is more than a simple devolution to deathcore’s first principles Other raucous styles are drawn into the maelstrom: new drummer Brandon Zackey blasts The Abysmal Gospel into grind territory while Hate Cult Ritual is infected with the demonic theatricality of black metal The band’s songwriting accommodates both the frenzied and the epic guitarist Ben Savage balances things out with glistening leads on Mammoth God and Nothing Is Coming For Any Of Us Destined to appeal across the heavy spectrum Hymns In Dissonance expertly plays to its creators’ many strengths For fans of: Fit For An Autopsy, Job For A Cowboy, Cannibal Corpse Hymns In Dissonance is released on March 7 via Metal Blade It’s here! Download have revealed a huge portion of next year’s line-up, with three first-time headliners – Green Day, Sleep Token and Korn – plus the likes of Weezer, Sex Pistols, Bullet For My Valentine, Spiritbox, The Darkness, Loathe and even McFly… Lorna Shore are hitting the road with a killer supporting cast of Whitechapel, Kublai Khan TX and Sanguisugabogg! Nine new bands have been added to next year’s Bloodstock line-up, with In Flames, Anthrax and more joining the likes of Killswitch Engage and Megadeth… Trivium are hitting the road later this year with Between The Buried And Me, Whitechapel and Khemmis… Deathcore favourites Whitechapel flex their songwriting muscles on impressive eighth album, Kin. The inaugural Exit 111 Festival goes down this October. Here's why we're stoked for it. Atreyu will celebrate 20 years of hook-heavy metalcore with an American tour. The opening track on Whitechapel’s new album The Valley is creepy, but its inspiration is even darker... More by this contributorBrian Dillon01 August 2024 Newsletter Preferences This site requires the use of Javascript to provide the best possible experience Please change your browser settings to allow Javascript content to run Liverpool City Council is appealing for assistance following the theft of a large number of gifts intended for vulnerable individuals from the Whitechapel Centre’s warehouse on Blackstock Street This devastating loss comes at a crucial time for the leading homeless and housing charity The City Council urges anyone with information about the incident to come forward and is calling on the community to offer their support to the Whitechapel Centre during this challenging period An official statement from Liverpool City Council is as follows: We are deeply saddened to hear of the theft of Christmas presents intended for homeless people in Liverpool The Whitechapel Centre does invaluable work in supporting those most in need and this senseless act has added to their already difficult task The community’s response to the break-in has been heartwarming and we encourage anyone with information to come forward The generosity and spirit of our City will always shine through. We urge residents to continue supporting local charities, and if they are able, to consider making a cash donation to the Whitechapel Centre via their website Anyone with information about the theft can DM Merseyside Police Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 24001074377 New Video / Single Now Playing + Pre-Orders Available Watch / stream WHITECHAPEL’s “Hymns In Dissonance” HERE WHITECHAPEL will release their long-awaited new full-length to the overall vibe of the album,” says guitarist Alex Wade of the band’s latest output We wanted to put out something that was shockingly menacing and brutal.” “The album follows the story of a cultist who is gathering worthy people to join his cult,” Wade further elaborates “and there are moments in the storyline where the cult followers are singing an evil hymn to open a portal for the head cultist to enter.“ brutal musicality serves as a soundtrack to the compelling lyrical story that vocalist Phil Bozeman vividly imagines “Hymns In Dissonance is a mockery of the true nature of what hymns are,” Bozeman explains The lineup’s timely and terrifying vision was first unveiled in the Fall of 2024 with the single “A Visceral Retch” inciting frenzied fans to call the song “a version of WHITECHAPEL we have never heard before Can’t explain how absolutely goddamn brutal this song is This is a total dream come true.” The title track is the LP’s second single has seen the core lineup – vocalist Phill Bozeman and bassist Gabe Crisp – intact since 2007 with the exception of drummer Brandon Zackey who has been playing with the band since 2022 While Hymns In Dissonance follows 2021′s Kin chronologically the new album is actually somewhat of a sequel to This Is Exile thematically the three-word title Hymns In Dissonance representing that correlation The band started composing the new album at Householder’s studio in June of 2023 following their headlining tour for The Valley The collective stuck to a strict weekday schedule the structure allowing for maximum creativity and minimum burnout which allowed the musicians to seamlessly switch gears from preproduction to recording the full album without skipping a beat The guitarist shadowed producer Mark Lewis a lot over the last five WHITECHAPEL albums and bringing that influence inside the band is a full circle moment for Householder and WHITECHAPEL “It’s cool that we can be self-sufficient and produce a record of this magnitude ourselves; not a lot of bands can say that.” today the band unleashes a video for the title track “It’s about [the storyline's cultist] building his cult of followers: Only the most heinous and vile people on the planet showing their devotion to their lord ‘Hymns In Dissonance’ has a few riffs and tweaks thrown in by the rest of us He can churn out some pummeling riffs and it’s one of the best songs on the album because he had a vision for the whole song with the riffs and vocals Watch WHITECHAPEL‘s video for “Hymns In Dissonance,” directed by My Good Eye Visuals, HERE Watch the band’s previously released video for “A Visceral Retch” HERE which features cover art by European tattoo artist Rob Borbas (Grind Design) will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants: For all pre-orders, visit: lnk.to/HymnsInDissonance Merch bundles and band exclusive vinyl available at: whitechapel.merchnow.com WHITECHAPEL will return to North American stages this Spring on a month-long headlining tour. The Hymns In Dissonance Tour runs from March 18th in Raleigh, North Carolina through April 19th in Atlanta, Georgia. Support will be provided by Brand Of Sacrifice, 200 Stab Wounds, and Alluvial. Tickets are on sale now. Find VIP upgrades at tix.soundrink.com Buy iTunes Artist Page Artist News © 2023 Metal Blade Records, Inc.Privacy Policy (function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script") tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load" false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload" loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window Deathcore stalwarts WHITECHAPEL have been a particularly incendiary run of form with both 2019’s The Valley and 2021’s Kin sending their fanbase into a frenzy Considering the hefty emotional connections to this content it was time for the band to return to their roots and write some “really brutal shit” again Hymns In Dissonance is available now via Metal Blade Records Prisoner 666 sets an ominous tone almost immediately. Evil atmospherics build up the tension before you are blasted by thunderous drum beats and a whirlwind of rapid fire vocal bursts from Phil Bozeman. Additionally armed with waves of potent riff work WHITECHAPEL have come to conquer. Hymns In Dissonance is equally as devastating blast beats surge down your ear canals accompanied by gruesome gutturals Adrenaline fuelled instrumentation wreaks havoc mowing down any unfortunate souls in its path A monstrous breakdown extracts your soul and transports it straight to the underworld Diabolic Slumber combines powerful hooks and maniacal intensity to great effect Punishing heaviness hits with seismic force A Visceral Retch is utterly menacing demonic growls and skin searing screams dish out plentiful savagery bolstered by skull splitting riff assaults Ex Infernis utilises haunting chanting to evoke the sensation of a devilish procession before diving into the raw brutality of Hate Cult Ritual Slick leadwork and a swift tempo create a chaotic soundscape as further unrelenting blast beats inflict a rhythmic pummelling The Abysmal Gospel opts to bludgeon its victims until nothing but dust remains before turning up the heat with unstoppable momentum Bedlam is equally as unforgiving and quite the appropriate title Crushing ferocity attacks from all angles as jabbing riff work unites with violent vocal expulsions melodic tone before summoning forth another hellish barrage Blistering drum sequences run riot as Bozeman provides another masterful display of his frightening range of techniques Nothing Is Coming For Any of Us is arguably one of the most explosive tracks WHITECHAPEL has unleashed to date The opening onslaught alone is enough to curdle your blood and leave you cowering in fear As it progresses sublime lead work and harmonious melodies seamlessly slot in to the mix departing on a rather euphoric note WHITECHAPEL are equipped with one of the most consistent back catalogues in metal and Hymns In Dissonance ensures that their streak of releasing genre defining material proudly continues Combining the strongest elements of the past and more recent chapters of the band has resulted in a formidable beast It may be too early to be considering Album Of The Year candidates already but this is a solid contender for the crown Hymns In Dissonance is out now via Metal Blade Records Like WHITECHAPEL on Facebook polemical artist who inspired a generation of Black British creatives – and whose works are as relevant today as they’ve ever been Thu 6 Feb 2025 09.00 CETLast modified on Thu 6 Feb 2025 16.57 CETShareFor many reasons 1981 stands as a landmark year in Black British history the New Cross Fire claimed the lives of 13 young Black people Amid widespread suspicion that the fire had been a targeted attack by violent racists the police concluded otherwise after a lacklustre investigation which resulted in 279 injuries to police and £7.5m worth of damage to the area’s buildings and vehicles While the subsequent Scarman Report acknowledged some of the hardships facing people of colour it emphatically denied the existence of institutional racism in Britain – no surprise perhaps given Thatcher had swept to victory a couple of years previously on the back of a wave of anti-immigration sentiment It was against this tumultuous backdrop that Donald Rodney – born to Jamaican parents and raised in Smethwick West Midlands (a hotbed of racial tensions in the 1960s)– entered art school at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham “When I joined in 1980 there were no other Black students but the year after there were three or four including Donald,” says Rodney’s friend and collaborator Keith Piper himself a young Black artist who had already begun exhibiting politically charged work he was the most unlikely to pick up those ideas and run with them because he was so flamboyant,” says Piper “He was every inch the artist – very humorous but incredibly sophisticated in his connection to contemporary art.” Looking back Piper says it was striking how early Rodney was proselytising the genius of Basquiat and he was fascinated with how his neo-expressionist techniques might be used to make more explicitly political art Soon, the pair’s Nottingham flat became a wellspring of ideas for the recently formed Blk Art Group which also featured contemporaries Eddie Chambers “At the time there was a lot of resistance to art being overtly political but it was an amazing time …[in] the early years of the Thatcher government The art world’s initial focus was on the group’s groundbreaking and often confrontational depictions of institutional racism. This was evident in works such as How the West Was Won (1982) which Rodney completed as an undergraduate student The painting takes inspiration from 1950s and 60s western movies and prominently features text (“The only good injun The work is emblematic of how the influence of pop culture formed a core of their unashamedly political approach connected by medical tubes pumping theatrical blood examining how Britain’s colonial history continues to structure modern life a display of 70 sporting trophies engraved with racist statements collected from media and overheard conversations (“Black sportsmen have small IQs commented on society’s contradictory attitudes toward Black excellence But as well as commenting on racism (the institutional and the everyday) the Blk Art Group was notable for their atypically vulnerable explorations of Black identity and innovative use of multimedia this often meant taking inspiration from his own struggles with illness notably by using X-ray film sheets to document his lifelong battle with sickle cell anaemia – Rodney would die of the disease in 1998 aged 36 His experiments using medical equipment began in the late 1980s with a lot of his work from the period being completed between hospital stays The artist’s upcoming retrospective at London’s Whitechapel Gallery encompasses most of his surviving works from 1982 to 1997 from large-scale oil pastels to animatronic sculptures and even his sketchbooks “Materiality was really important to him,” she says “He had a sense of artworks as objects that aren’t necessarily made to live for ever but as having a precarity and vulnerability which goes against the commodification of artwork.” Rodney’s technical prowess and choice of materials are as essential to his work as the political messages which often literally adorn his creations “Too frequently artists’ work is perceived through their biography rather than the complexities and nuances of their practice,” she says “His work touches so many themes and issues that are acutely relevant today – it’s not reducible to the experience of young Black men in the UK at a certain moment in time.” The piece features a photograph of Rodney’s palm holding a miniature house crafted from pieces of his own skin The work powerfully evokes themes of vulnerability protection and the fragility of the body and the home Rodney’s use of his body as both medium and subject has particularly resonated with subsequent generations of creatives Yinka Shonibare and Steve McQueen – but also novelists such as Caleb Azumah Nelson In the House of My Father is directly referenced in Nelson’s acclaimed debut reflects on vulnerability and the weight of his own trauma “He became increasingly reliant on a group of artists and curators around him who became known as Donald Rodney plc who would help him to realise these increasingly ambitious projects,” says Piper Perhaps his most significant collaborator during his later years was Prof Mike Phillips who he met at the Slade School of Art in the 1980s who was working with coding and digital media merged art with artificial intelligence through a Java-based AI and neural network that simulated his physical presence and creative personality The platform engaged users in text-based conversations drawing from a vast archive of Rodney’s documentation Free weekly newsletterThe only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns Self Portrait Black Men Public Enemy London Image © The Donald Rodney EstateHis twin fascinations with race and robotics greatly informed much of his final exhibition which opened at South London Gallery in September 1997 the show was named for the Caribbean tradition of celebrating the life of a recently deceased family member for many days after their passing a work that subtly stitched racist slurs into camouflage fabric but attention on opening night was largely stolen by Psalms (1997) an automated wheelchair that weaved its way around the gallery Rodney was too ill to attend the exhibition but Tawadros recalls “this unoccupied wheelchair was like a haunting presence of Donald in the show – pointing towards his future absence because he knew his life was going to be short It’s a work that’s not just boundary-pushing – it’s a poignant way of raising the question of what legacy we leave.” there are moments when the stuff they do seems to touch a particular nerve,” says Piper And understandably given the themes of race and the body as a metaphor explored in his work wider consciousness of Rodney’s work has grown since the global Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 “Donald was very committed to anti-racist struggle and he was very specific about using his personal experience with illness to unlock wider issues around empire “Donald was an incredibly ambitious artist,” says Tawadros “He wanted to have a wing of the Tate named after him but his longtime partner said to me: ‘[A retrospective at] Whitechapel gallery is the next best thing’.” It’s a mark of Rodney’s influence and staying power that Tawadros holds out hope that maybe one day the Tate will come round “How many artists have wings – there’s the Turner wing Maybe one day there will be a Donald Rodney one Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker is at Whitechapel Gallery, London, 12 February to 4 May the Met’s neighbourhood policing lead for Tower Hamlets "Today's operation followed months of planning by local officers Altab Ali Park has a rich history and cultural significance within Tower Hamlets and the aim is to return it to a location for residents The work with Tower Hamlets Council is helping to counter gang activity using a range of tactics the Met and the council held a joint event at Altab Ali Park to update the community on the work taking place.  Targeted action has led to a significant reduction in violent crime and drug offences Working together we have achieved the following results since last November in Altab Ali Park and the surrounding roads: which is why we're investing £8m to make our borough a safer space Our Anti-Crime Task Force provides a new collaborative community safety model for us to work in partnership with the police to address these issues.  “This work aims not only to tackle organised crime around Altab Ali Park but also to ensure this remains a space residents can enjoy we are already beginning to see positive results.” Share your thoughts and experiences about crime and safety in Altab Ali Park and help shape our work by taking part in a quick anonymous survey. Complete the survey here Improved neighbourhood policing was one of the reasons the Met was removed from special measures His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services also praised improvements to call handling All About The Rock After the band teased their new album release earlier and the release of the title track ‘Hymns in Dissonance’ on the 15th of January 2025 (the day before my birthday may I add) I have the delight of reviewing and commenting on the newest upcoming release from Whitechapel ‘Hymns in Dissonance‘ Hymns in Dissonance is set for release on the 7th of March 2025 under Metal Blade Records and will be a 10-track relentless assault of a release The album kicks off strong with ‘Prisoner 666‘ setting a first seemingly ‘melodic peaceful’ start followed by a powerful and chaotic kick to the nadders with the ‘I bear the number 666’ leading straight in there This is what you want… straight from the get-go a level of aggression that makes you want to throw your cat out the window (with the love of course here The track is followed by the title track ‘Hymns in Dissonance‘ Notable tracks from this album are ‘A Visceral Retch‘ ‘Hate Cult Ritual‘ and ‘Mammoth God‘ These tracks are what you would expect from nostalgic Whitechapel bringing back their old deathcore brutality with the abrasive and visceral vocals pummeling riffs and bone-crushing blast beats that the band is known and loved for I would like to give a shout-out to the track ‘Ex Infernis‘ which I feel was a perfect ‘break up’ for the album with a slightly different eerie vibe than the rest of the album and showcases the flexibility able to be provided by the band in terms of dynamic sound You must be logged in to post a comment Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive urgent repair work will be carried out on some of the stained glass windows in Whitechapel Library Stained glass window inside Whitechapel Library scaffolding will be erected inside the library The work is scheduled to be completed by mid April We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to preserve this beautiful space If you have any questions or need assistance FAD Magazine FAD Magazine covers contemporary art – News Exhibitions and Interviews reported on from London Bidding opens today for the 2025 Art Icon Auction with a stellar lineup of works from leading contemporary artists in support of Whitechapel Gallery’s Exhibition and Participation Programmes Whitechapel Gallery is delighted to announce the donation of 20 exceptional artworks for auction by artists Andrew Pierre Hart (b Pakistan), Daisy Dodd-Noble (b.1989 France), Tunji Adeniyi-Jones (b.1992 El Salvador), Hettie Inniss (b.1999 UK), Tiona Nekkia McClodden (b.1981 With two generous donations for private sale from Theodore Ereira-Guyer (b.1990 The online charity auction is hosted by Phillips on www.phillips.com through to 2pm GMT on 5th March 2025.  There will be a display of auction artworks at Whitechapel Gallery from today to 5th March 2025.  All donated artworks will be sold in support of Whitechapel Gallery’s Exhibition and Participation Programmes with a particular focus on nurturing artists amplifying diverse voices and creating opportunities for audiences of all backgrounds to engage with bold and inspiring art The evening will feature a special reading by award-winning British-Turkish novelist and essayist Elif Shafak followed by a performance by singer-songwriter Stephanie Santiago.   Colombia) is a leading voice in contemporary art known for her arresting sculptural and installation works that engage with themes of political violence Drawing on her own experience of Colombia’s turbulent political history while also reflecting broader global concerns Salcedo creates monumental yet intimate spaces for individual and collective mourning giving form to the invisibility of peoples marginalised by war Her practice is informed by a rigorous research process which often involves spending time with remote rural communities and draws on a range of resources including philosophy She describes her art as a “topology of mourning” importantly bearing witness to lives erased or diminished by political agendas. The Art Icon 2025 Committee comprised Jeremy Achkar Dame Vivian Hunt DBE & Nicholas Basden Susannah Hyman and Maria Sukkar. Cheyenne Westphal “Phillips is honoured to support Whitechapel Gallery for the twelfth annual Art Icon Gala which this year celebrates the extraordinary achievements of Doris Salcedo and the profound impact of her work on the artistic landscape We are thrilled to serve as the auction partner for the Art Icon online auction on Phillips.com Proceeds from the auction will directly benefit Whitechapel Gallery’s Exhibitions and pioneering Participation Programmes Through our ongoing partnership with Whitechapel Gallery and our broader global Arts Partnerships programme supporting and championing contemporary art and culture on both local and international stages.” drawing deeply from his experience as a first-generation immigrant self-construction and the impact of societal frameworks are central to his art Ali Kazim creates layered watercolour drawings that often depict solitary figures and desolate landscapes using techniques inspired by miniature painting. Untitled (Bird Hunter Series) (2024) depicts hunters from the Indus Delta who rely on migratory birds for their livelihood expressive paintings that fuse raw emotion with a deep connection to his coastal upbring. Rider with Scarf (2023) features one of Fox’s recurring motifs—a majestic horse—which symbolises humanity’s desire to conquer and control process-driven painting Crash (2024) explores humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world.  Tunji Adeniyi-Jones’s Four Virtues (2023) draws on his Yoruba heritage and West African aesthetics exploring themes of identity Hettie Inniss explores the fluidity of memory and identity through her sensory painting practice. My Lodestar (2025) embraces ambiguity layering figuration and abstraction to reflect the instability of memory and the freedom it holds Wynnie Mynerva’s Untitled (Watercolour II) (2024) references historical and mythological iconography while subverting Western Old Master traditions Mynerva both honours and critiques their classical art education finding new ways to visualise the complexities of identity and desire Rose Nestler, Memento Mori II (2023) presents a bouquet of calla lilies and fried eggs meticulously crafted from leather and fabric while the fried eggs introduce the absurd and abject.  Daisy Dodd-Noble’s vibrant works reimagine canonical landscape painting with a playful Worlingham (2024) reflects on the symbiotic relationships within ecosystems drawing attention to the beauty and fragility of biodiversity.  Ania Hobson’s vibrant oil painting, She Brought Me to Myself (2025) reimagines portraiture through thick impasto exaggerated features and a dynamic composition.  Michael Armitage blends historical narratives imagery from popular media and personal recollections to explore themes of identity Armitage portrays a sleeping woman wrapped in a patterned cloth celebrating her individuality and rich inner world Victoria Cantons probes the human condition exploring the psychological and emotional boundaries that shape our relationships with ourselves and others. Untitled (The End of Longing) Horse Chestnut (2023) exemplifies Julie Curtiss’s exploration of texture and detail Known for her meticulous figurative paintings and gouache works Curtiss juxtaposes the mundane with the uncanny revealing the grotesque and dreamlike undertones of human behaviour Andrew Pierre Hart’s He So Blue (2024) combines Hart’s signature geometric patterns with art-historical influences engaging with the nighttime cultures and rhythms of Whitechapel Peter Kennard has created politically charged works that confront economic inequality His work often critiques humanity’s proximity to catastrophe as epitomised in Untitled: Halting the Doomsday Clock (1988) Gideon Rubin’s enigmatic painting, White Collar (2025) history and the inheritance of trauma through faceless yet evocative figures Rubin investigates the mythologies of the recent past is an object that the artist is using to study the relationship between the economic history of dormant currency as it relates to power and the concept of disintegration.  Christopher Page explores the boundaries between light creating paintings that hover between illusion and abstraction His trompe l’oeil works— such as Imago (2024)—transform spaces into uncanny environments where the virtual and physical collide Studio Lenca creates vibrant works that challenge dominant narratives about identity migration and belonging. Cadena (Chain) (2025) features sharply dressed figures in colourful outfits and hats navigating borders—both physical and symbolic—shaped by colonisation Taylor Simmons’s Show Some Leg (2022) captures a hazy seamlessly blending figuration and abstraction into layered Known for his neon palette and innovative use of acrylic Simmons creates fragmented narratives inspired by music Theodore Ereira-Guyer merges classical art historical themes with experimental techniques that defy categorisation His works occupy a liminal space between painting created through a labour-intensive process.  Sholto Blissett creates meticulously detailed imaginary landscapes that merge topographical and architectural forms. To See the Wood For The Trees III (2024) draws inspiration from surrealism and Renaissance painting traditions like capriccio and veduta Mark Westall is the Founder and Editor of FAD magazine - This special exhibition celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women – one of the most important awards supporting women-identified artists Empowering Visions in 20 Years of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women a special exhibition celebrating two decades Emma Talbot is the recipient of the 8th edition of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women Iwona Blazwick has announced that after twenty years at the helm she will be stepping down in April 2022 Join the FAD newsletter and get the latest news and articles straight to your inbox Four men have been arrested on suspicion of hard drug dealing as part of a crackdown on crime in Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel and two others aged 18 and 17 on suspicion of supplying cocaine and heroine  Officers discovered Class A drugs on the suspects and that their aim is to return its status to residents and business by reducing its current crime rate and occurrence of anti-social behaviour This tactic aims to prioritise tackling crime that is of high importance to each community Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, the Met’s neighbourhood policing lead for Tower Hamlets, said in a statement: “Tackling drug supply is a priority for us as we know it’s often linked to other offences such as robbery and violent crime the Met Police and Tower Hamlets Council held a joint event at the park to inform the community of the work taking place in line with the aims of Clear Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said in a statement: “This work aims not only to tackle organised crime around Altab Ali Park but also to ensure this remains a space residents can enjoy we are already beginning to see positive results.”  Targeted action around Altab Ali Park since November 2024 from the Met Police has resulted in seven drug lines shut down and the removal of Class A drugs and illicit cash.   Residents of Tower Hamlets can share their thoughts and experiences about Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel by filling out an anonymous survey North American Tour With Lorna Shore To Commence Next Week Watch / Stream WHITECHAPEL’s “A Visceral Retch” HERE WHITECHAPEL is pleased to unleash their brand-new standalone single “A Visceral Retch.” Relentlessly slamming twisted theme about gluttonous overlords who test the lengths to which humans will go to survive and join their cult it’s a prime song for any extreme metal playlist Comments WHITECHAPEL vocalist Phil Bozeman “‘A Visceral Retch’ is a song that fans of The Somatic Defilement will latch onto immediately It was one of the first songs we had in the chamber to work with This song came to light thanks mostly to [guitarist] Zach Householder that’s it.’ Zach is notorious for very dark and horror-like vibes so this album is right in his wheelhouse Imagine being put in a situation of survival by gluttonous you’re against the people you love the most It’s a way to find the ones that are truly evil people to build and strengthen their cult It also represents how horrible people can really be Watch WHITECHAPEL‘s “A Visceral Retch” video, directed by My Good Eye Visuals, at THIS LOCATION Stream / purchase the track at: metalblade.com/whitechapel WHITECHAPEL will serve as direct support to Lorna Shore on their upcoming The journey begins on September 19th at Montreal and includes performances at Louder Than Life and Aftershock Additional support on the tour will be provided by Kublai Khan TX and Sanguisugabogg the band will join Thy Art Is Murder for eight dates in Latin America before closing out the year in late December with the Tennessee Takeover 2024 a trio of headlining shows through Chattanooga Support will be provided by Sanguisugabogg Tickets for all shows are on sale now at whitechapelband.com NHS Property Services has secured planning for a major new medical research campus around the Royal London Hospital site in the East End The vast Whitechapel Road Development in East London proposes six new and repurposed buildings rising from 3 to 12 storeys that will provide 860,000 sq ft of lab Designed by architects Allies and Morrison and Gibson Thornley the campus project will transform a series of outdated buildings and empty sites around the Royal London Hospital The new vision will provide a new commercial workplace life science laboratories and higher education space alongside new public amenities including green spaces The ambitious regeneration scheme is supported by Barts Health NHS Trust Queen Mary University London the Greater London Authority and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Plot D1 is the largest of the new build projects rising to 12 storeys An NHS Property Services spokesperson said: “The proposals will regenerate a series of outdated buildings and empty sites around the Royal London Hospital being the catalyst in creating a thriving life science cluster.” said “We have been working closely with a broad range of stakeholders for over six years and I am thrilled that our life science cluster proposals have been approved by Tower Hamlets.” “The Whitechapel Road project will be transformational for the East End bringing extensive new and improved public spaces, a group of contextual and responsible workplace buildings, and an ecosystem of new businesses to supplement the already rich and diverse Whitechapel neighbourhood.” Matt Thornley, Co-founder of Gibson Thornley, said “The development will help cement Whitechapel as a major life science hub, bringing new jobs and knowledge to build upon the existing NHS sites and Queen Mary Campus. “The approval by Tower Hamlets is a great milestone in delivering the scheme, and it will be exciting to see the regeneration of the area and improvements for the local community.” Major building plots for new medical research campus The proposed scheme was originally set to start on site this year. It will now be referred to the Mayor of London for a final decision. The client consultant team includes Structures: AKTII; Services: Arup; Cost: T&T Alinea. Lygia Clark’s Eu e o Tu (The I and the You) (1967), which lends the exhibition its title Photo: Vicente de Mello Sem data. Courtesy Associacão Cultural O Mundo de Lygia Clark A major exhibition dedicated to Lygia Clark (1920-88), the Brazilian artist who in the 1960s dramatically recalibrated the relationship between artist and audience, is now open at Whitechapel Gallery. Clark had a solo show at Signals gallery in London in 1965, and has been included in various group shows, but this is the first time she has been given a significant solo show by a UK institution. The exhibition builds on the Whitechapel Gallery’s history of championing artists from all over the world and Latin America in particular, from Frida Kahlo and Tina Modotti to Hélio Oiticica, Tunga and Alfredo Jaar. From its beginnings in 1901, “the gallery has been locally embedded but globally connected”, says the director Gilane Tawadros. The exhibition spans the mid 1950s to the early 1970s—some of the most repressive years of Brazil’s military dictatorship—when Clark spent time in Paris, returning to Rio de Janeiro permanently in 1976. The period coincides with her move away from geometric abstraction towards a greater focus on sensory experience and on closing the gap between work and audience. By the end of her life, Tawadros says, “she saw it as a form of therapy, a form of healing”. The show takes its title from one of Clark’s most experimental works, The I and the You (1967), a work that she termed a “proposal”, to signal its state of incompleteness. The work becomes complete when two people interact while wearing Clark’s specially designed suits, which cover their eyes and connect them by a sort of umbilical cord. The suits are lined with materials including foam, water and rubber, which the participants can explore by opening various pockets. Clark with one of her Bicho sculptures in Rio de Janeiro. The Bichos are hinged forms designed to be manipulated Courtesy Associacão Cultural O Mundo de Lygia Clark The work signals a way of thinking about art that, Tawadros says, “speaks to this moment, now, to generations of artists and audiences who are thinking about these questions of how we are in the world, how we relate to each other at a time when we are looking at each other’s separateness and difference rather than the points that connect us to each other as human beings.” To make the point, the British artist Sonia Boyce’s exhibition An Awkward Relation (until 12 January 2025) runs alongside and in dialogue with the Clark show, which she has co-curated with Tawadros and the Anglo-Brazilian art scholar Michael Asbury. Boyce got to known Clark’s work in the 1990s, and the pairing emphasises not only their connection across generations and geography but also their shared journey from two-dimensional works to three-dimensional objects, to works that are “about participation, touch, interaction, engagement”, Tawadros says. Clark’s works made after around 1960 present a significant challenge to curators, since they do not fully exist outside the moment in which they are experienced. Replicas of The I and the You suits have been provided by the Associação Cultural Lygia Clark, and are available for visitors to wear; the gallery is also screening a 2012 recreation of the work. Other pieces are simply too fragile to be handled regularly. An opening display of paintings and works on paper is followed by examples of Bichos (beasts or critters), Clark’s extensive series of hinged forms made from wood or metal, and designed to be held and manipulated by the viewer. While the originals are displayed behind glass, replicas made with the authorisation of the artist’s estate are available for visitors to touch and interact with exactly as Clark intended. Lygia Clark, Bicho de Bolso, 1967Photo Michel Desjardins. Courtesy of Associacão Cultural O Mundo de Lygia Clark It is a mark of Clark’s status in Brazil that in 1971 the singer Caetano Veloso dedicated a song to her, If You Hold a Stone. It probably refers to Stone and Air (1966), Clark’s first “sensorial object”, comprising an air-filled bag with a stone resting over one corner. Holding it between two hands she squeezed the bag in time with her breathing, making the stone move in and out, a manifestation of the internal workings of her body. Similar works, using plastic bags, paper, seeds, fruit netting and glue to focus and express bodily experience, dominated the 1960s and led to participatory group work that Clark developed following her time in Paris during the May 1968 protests. Performances of Corpo Coletivo (1970) and Elastic Net (1974) will be “activated” on Saturdays throughout the exhibition’s run. More than most, the exhibition requires the memories of those who knew and worked with Clark. “It can never be the same as when the work is activated by a living artist, but we’re going to try and be as true as we can,” Tawadros says. news30 June 2015Heirs of Brazil’s leading artist at war over estateThe Lygia Clark foundation has temporarily stopped authenticating works by the artist archive1 November 1996Women artists provide alternative view at the Whitechapel“Inside the visible” is on show until 8 December WHITECHAPEL will return to North American stages this Spring on a month-long headlining tour The Hymns In Dissonance Tour runs from March 18th in Raleigh North Carolina through April 19th in Atlanta Support will be provided by Brand Of Sacrifice The journey follows WHITECHAPEL‘s recent sold out run with Lorna Shore “We are excited to announce the Hymns In Dissonance Tour taking place in spring of 2025 This will be our first headlining tour on our new album cycle and we are looking forward to playing some new songs live for everyone The lineup is diverse with upcoming modern deathcore Brand Of Sacrifice 200 Stab Wounds bringing the old school death metal flavor and Alluvial contributing a heavy progressive sound to the tour Grab your tickets now and witness as we embark on a new chapter for WHITECHAPEL.” WHITECHAPEL released their standalone single “A Visceral Retch,” in September “…the speed-driven piece is full of detuned death riffs and mega-fast drum snaring Vocalist Phil Bozeman indeed does some gut-rumbled retching throughout the tune no doubt brought on by some truly nauseating in-song coprophagia… ” Idioteq concurred “reinforces their standing as stalwarts of the deathcore genre,” while Metal Injection gushed “WHITECHAPEL is back with a new song called ‘A Visceral Retch’ and I am currently writing this from the grave If you’re a fan of old-school WHITECHAPEL… you’re gonna love this – it’s heavy as shit In case you missed it, watch WHITECHAPEL‘s video for “A Visceral Retch” at THIS LOCATION. Stream/purchase the track at: metalblade.com/whitechapel an escape room and even bloomin’ axe throwing it probably has something to do with Jack the Ripper poor Whitechapel as it’s not the nicest thing to be known for But there’s so much more to E1 than just murderers Elizabeth or the Hammersmith and City line (if you dare) and hop off at Whitechapel Just don’t go hunting for an actual white chapel because it no longer exists… Here’s a roundup of 10 of the best things to do in Whitechapel: 📍You’ll find Tayyabs at 83-89 Fieldgate Street 📍You’ll find The Blind Beggar at 337 Whitechapel Road Aldgate East tube’s next door neighbour may look traditional from the outside but step inside and you’ll be blown away by this hub for talent where ‘history has always been the future’ The Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world-class artists from modern masters Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle and Sarah Lucas 📍You’ll find the Whitechapel Gallery at 77-82 Whitechapel High Street 📍You’ll find the Genesis Cinema at 93-95 Mile End Road Uncover everything there is to know about one of London’s most chilling chapters The Jack the Ripper Museum is more than just your average museum it is an immersive experience that transports you back to Victorian England to witness the destitute conditions of the time the victims of one of the most notorious serial killers in the world Each floor of the museum meticulously recreates scenes from the era – from the dimly lit streets where the murders took place to the eerie mortuary where the victims were examined It truly is a spine-tingling journey through the time and the story so don’t miss out if you’ve been forever fascinated with Jack the Ripper 📍You’ll find Jack the Ripper Museum at 12 Cable St 📍You’ll find AIM Escape Rooms at Goodman’s Fields 📍You’ll find Rinkoff’s Bakery at Rinkoff Bakery at 224 Jubilee Street Although we’ve already mentioned one pub especially if you’re looking for a top-notch pub crawl the Princess of Prussia is a historic gem that exudes traditional pub vibes with an old-worm charm This beloved East End pub dates back to the 19th century and offers a cosy welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for a relaxed pint and some drool-worthy pub grub whether you’re in the mood for a hearty meal or just want to soak up the ambiance the Princess of Prussia promises a quintessentially London pub experience that’s hard to beat 📍You’ll find Princess of Prussia at 15 Prescot St 📍You’ll find The Culpeper at 40 Commercial Street 📍You’ll find the start of Brick Lane at 1 Whitechapel Road 📍You’ll find Axeperience Axe Throwing on the Basement Floor of 48-51 Minories so we’ve briefly touched base on Jack the Ripper but there’s so much more to do in Whitechapel circulating the most infamous serial killer of all time – and he (or she!) was famously never caught so the jury’s out on who they actually were… So there you have it – a roundup of the best things to do in Whitechapel From discovering what’s on at the Whitechapel Gallery to hurling an axe at a target there’s plenty to do here whatever you’re looking for Best get yourself to E1 then and find out for yourself having shaken off deathcore’s confines to mine more emotionally intense and melodic seams the Tennessee sextet have professed a desire to head back to the furious abandon that characterised their early efforts The Somatic Defilement and classic This Is Exile Proving that the more seasoned can still mix it with the young breed Hymns In Dissonance is a measured but assuredly ugly slab of modern deathcore But while it spits venom and strikes with serrated blades frontman Phil Bozeman recaptures the wild abandon of yesteryear with an unhinged arsenal of screams and gutturals as he narrates the tale of a demonic cult And while there are some of the meatiest breakdowns the band have summoned in years on the likes of A Visceral Retch and Bedlam’s hammer blows there’s too much guile among the tri-guitar writing core to make Hymns In Dissonance a juvenile throwback Diabolic Slumber’s eerie atmosphere lurks before exploding into a wall of tremolo discord Hate Cult Ritual has classic leads that cut through the blasting and belligerent chants melancholic undercurrent permeates while being pummelled Nothing Is Coming For Any Of Us ends in gorgeous guitar harmonies that head into a swift sunrise following the previous 40 minutes of fiendish darkness In a field where bands are happy to tinker with the same old tropes Hymns In Dissonance is out March 7 via Metal Blade Adam BrennanRugby Sean Bean and power ballad superfan Adam has been writing for Hammer since 2007 and has a bad habit of constructing sentences longer than most Dream Theater songs Can usually be found cowering at the back of gigs in Bristol and Cardiff Bruce Dickinson once called him a 'sad bastard' "Metal is the most positive thing in the world" I’m going to join them”: The man who was asked to replace James Hetfield as singer in Metallica – and turned it down Ghost's $130 Papa V Perpetua 'Ghildo' sells out in minutes How is it 4 years already since the Kin album we have one line up change which is drummer Brandon Zackey goes from touring drummer to permanent member then you can hear this sort of droning guitar behind it then the band comes in with an almost tribal groove part then the vocals scream in and there is an almost off kilter Meshuggah style riff that comes in while the vocals are really spat out over it then the huge chorus singalong of 666 comes in as the tempo goes half time with the double bass love that groove with the ride cymbal carrying it in the space that’s guaranteed to move a pit when that part hits As soon as that riff hits you it’s just nasty then as the verse hits it’s a really syncopated riff with the drums now is it just me or is that next riff that comes in a proper grind core riff I could hear that in a Napalm song without a doubt I love the way this one is flipping about styles then about a minute and a half in we have the first breakdown parts really nice solo with some lovely harmonies could do with being a bit more forward in the mix to be fair once we get to the end of the track we have the deathcore breaks with the vocals to match the rest of the track was amazing without this tacked onto the end of it really nice when the band kicks in with that in the background love the little drum fills there before the blast beats come in the production is sort of weird on this first part it’s almost too much grind on the guitar chords on their own where it really grates on the ear once the vocals come in then it’s not as bad on the flip side the drum sound is excellent and the drumming from Brandon on this on is fantastic the middle section breakdown is ridiculous very nice use of the opening faded chords to bring back in the song again nice little melodic solo comes in and then harmonised lovely scream into that last breakdown part at the end not sure how I feel about all the vocal effects now when it hits the break then you get a huge slab of a breakdown it is like taking an aural beating the blast beat part at the end almost has an old school DM feel but it lasts such a short length of time and then into another breakdown it’s a pit because that part really felt like it was breaking up the song this wouldn’t be off as a Nile intro to a song in all seriousness that’s the vibe it is giving me right away even the breakdown part isn’t so Deathcore to me not that it lasts long and then bang it’s off to full tempo again technically a half time feel but it’s still frantic in feel really nice break into the chanting at the start again was not expecting that and then the first sort of reprieve from the speed as the song comes to an end Thats a weird guitar sound there to kick it off then the Kerry King bar solo comes in as the tempo cranks right up now that’s another insanely Grind core/Hardcore riff that kicks in and the beat goes straight for that vibe again massive Napalm vibes for the second time on this album before we hit the hardcore part then a really cool grove part with some nice drum accents middle section the insane double kicks come in before we get another solo that part right after though I hear the melody in the guitar in the background this is my favourite track on the album without a doubt really slow and deliberate double bass groove then there is a break and into a more typical deathcore section when it gets into the swallow the earth part there are some really interesting dissonant chords going on which in some way add a bit of melody to that section this one really is just a straight up groove song some nice Cannibal style harmonies in there around the two min mark A nearly clean droning guitar on one side and then some harmonics played on the other side really slow and deliberate build up on this one at the start it’s one of those that the blasts come in but the guitar is just sort of staying simple and it’s the drums dancing around it the vocals are just the punishment over the top of everything there is actually a really melodic part when the higher scream vocals come in might be hard to miss but straight away the guitar has a tonne of melody more centre of the mix and really good to hear it bit of Kerry King and some nice harmonies again then straight into that section that I hear as being ultra melodic lovely harmony section as the song fades out to some semi distorted guitar chords some really nice vocal screams at the start that’s the thing I cannot get over on this album the breakdown on this though is disgusting then it half times the breakdown again and it just keeps getting lower and lower the a quick drum roll and out into thrash tempo then the blasts come in again as the guitar plays a melodic figure over the top of it all really gives you a breather just having that bit of melody in there Then it stops to a semi clean guitar octave part that comes in the amount of ghost notes on the snare drum that is some subtle drumming apart from the blasts all over the rest of the record also a really nice melodic solo comes right in over this part as well some really nice playing on this part and it just continues on till it’s just the guitars playing melodically till the song closes down I love the grind core elements but sometimes the adding of the breakdown parts take away from the song for me it’s like we have to put them in because they are expected that and the solos need to come way up in the mix for me as they get a bit suffocated acclaimed singer-songwriter ZZ Ward unleashes Liberation returning to Croydon from Whitechapel Station This ride takes us to the docks in the Isle of Dogs and Mudchute Farm then beside the Thames and the Lea to Hackney and lunch in Clapton Then around Clissold Park and back via Spitalfields to our train If coming from Croydon meet at West Croydon station platform 1 at 10:10 for the 10:18 to Shadwell If starting at Shadwell Station meet at 10:55 Allowing half an hour for pauses in Mudchute Farm or Cody Dock and an hour for lunch we should reach Whitechapel Station where the ride ends at 15:10 Bring a strong lock to park for the lunch stop https://www.komoot.com/tour/2063177213?share_token=aEk7xWGYsBdzxLWnOIKcVLWOSfZ8cinkCSSXv4x26SaHwgqd7d&ref=wtd Charity website design by Studio Republic The arrests formed part of a wider crackdown on organised crime by local police and council teams News | UK Four suspected drug dealers have been arrested by Met Police officers in Whitechapel as part of a wider crackdown on organised crime in the area Following an investigation into drug-related offences around Altab Ali Park officers took four individuals into custody on March 19 Class A drugs were also recovered during the operation which came after a months-long investigation in which police listened to residents' concerns about their community The recent crackdown is part of the Home Office’s ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ initiative—a three-phase strategy designed to strengthen local responses to organised crime. The Met describes the approach as “a plan to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by crime by focusing on what matters most to locals.” said addressing drug supply was a priority for officers and part of a broader strategy to reduce crime "Tackling drug supply is a priority for us as we know it's often linked to other offences such as robbery and violent crime," she said Police are working closely with Tower Hamlets Council to tackle gang-related crime in the East London borough using tactics including regular officer patrols and community engagement Ms Tunstall added: "The operation followed months of planning by local officers Work by authorities around Altab Ali Park has reportedly led to significant improvements in recent months. Since November, 38 arrests have been made and seven drug lines shut down Police have also noted a decrease in knife crime in the area Councillor Abu Talha Choudhury said: "The 'Clear, Hold, Build' project aims not only to reduce crime, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour around Altab Ali Park but also to rejuvenate and regenerate the area making it a space that residents can enjoy and take pride in." LondonClark’s excellently unmuseumlike exhibition invites you to handle sculptures wear eye-magnifying goggles and tactile suits while Boyce extends the taboo-breaking theme with touchable dreadlocks For artworks made to be handled and played with playing and handling are out of the question The Whitechapel Gallery has chosen to behave in an excellently unmuseumlike way for The I and the You which invites you to get touchy with the Brazilian artist and art therapist Lygia Clark (★★★★☆) This condensed exhibition follows Clark as she makes a journey to the outer boundaries of “proper” art quasi-architectural abstractions painted by Russian artists earlier in the century Her crisply rendered and geometrically restrained drawings and paintings were informed by thoughts about the interaction of shapes and lines They led to playful architectural sculptures Invitation to play … Óculos (Goggles) Photograph: Guy Bell/REX/ShutterstockDuring the revolutionary decade of the 1960s Clark started to explore radical ideas about art that related directly to its audience – or which invited the audience to relate in new ways to one another The most familiar of these are the hinged metal sculptures known as bichos (“animals” or “creatures”) They are normally positioned reverently behind glass and are handled by heavily insured gallery staff wearing white gloves a number of bichos are presented as reproductions on white plinths with visitors allowed to adjust and reposition them as they please There are further invitations to play – goggles to put on and see a magnified reflection of your eyes mobius strips in elastic into which you insert your hands mobius strips in paper to cut into a growing loop A sprawling net knotted from rubber bands slumps across a low platform You can knot more bands and help the net grow You can also lie under it with friends and form a bound-in but a film from 1974 makes it look like a strange and primal experience: intimate and disconcerting More intimate still is this exhibition’s title work Two participants are invited to don double layered outfits – like spacesuits from a 1960s sci-fi movie – which are connected by an umbilical length of rubber tubing the twinned participants explore one another’s bodies with their hands unzipping pockets in the outer suits to reach inside and encounter textured panels on the inner suits – including patches of hay and fluff that stand in for chest and pubic hair Form a bound-in springy mass … Rede de Elásticos (Elastic Net) Photograph: Guy Bell/Rex/ShutterstockClark was interested in provoking intimate relations between people and developed these exercises in workshops with students They weren’t intended to be performance artworks per se – which of course complicates the showing of them in a gallery some of the more necessarily intimate works will be activated – among them one for which participants don brightly coloured bodysuits that are then stitched together to form a human circle they move over and between one another in a writhing knot Presenting this as a “performance” invites attempts to aestheticise it and make the movements controlled and dancerly. I suspect the activations back in the day were much more awkward and giggly. As with the recent Yoko Ono exhibition at Tate Modern Clark’s invitations to explore our boundaries in engaging with objects and other people still feel curiously radical Free weekly newsletterYour weekly art world round-up Boyce has lined the large upper galleries in photographic wallpaper: in the first a pattern abstracted from a photograph of braided hair; in the others stills from an improvised performance inspired in part by Clark presented by Boyce in 2017 at the ICA in London Footage of this performance – which featured dancers and vocalists interacting with objects and one another – is shown over seven screens It does not merit this massively over-extended display Whitechapel Library will be undergoing important structural renovations Starting Monday 22 July as part of the Whitechapel Library Preservation and Enhancement Project.  These works will take place from Monday 22 July and are expected to finish in Spring 2025 The renovations will focus on the exterior of the building helping to prevent leak and damp that is common in older heritage buildings by doing preventative works on the roof and by installing an exterior walkway on the roof Whitechapel Library may close during the renovation works however any closure will be communicated about if they happen especially when installing the exterior walkway so alternative study spaces can be found in the Old Library in the Garrod Building West Smithfield Library or Mile End Library You will be able to find updated information on the dedicated Whitechapel Library Preservation and Enhancement Project web pages or on-site from the Whitechapel Library information boards For any questions or concerns, please contact the Library Services Enquiries Team on Library@qmul.ac.uk or inform staff at the Whitechapel Library Welcome Desk Donald Rodney’s most moving work is a photograph titled In the House of My Father Nestling in the palm of his hand is a fragile dwelling whose flimsy walls are held together by pins This tiny model is made from pieces of the artist’s skin removed during one of the many operations he underwent during his short life; sadly he died the following year His body was crumbling under the onslaught of sickle cell anaemia a disease that almost exclusively affects people of African descent and for which there is no known cure but from within his own body – a dwelling unable to provide protection against its very self This complex work therefore addresses issues of inheritance and identity as well as of illness “can be suddenly broken down by just a few cells working in the wrong way.” And he used the idea of a body dying from within as a metaphor for the sickness he perceived at the heart of society “What lies beneath the surface is a governing principal in my work,” he said “I try to indicate a type of unease (or disease) with the order of things.” Blood transfusions played an important role in the treatment of his condition the work that gives its name to the exhibition fake blood is pumped along tubes to link two family crests – that of Queen Elizabeth I and Sir John Hawkins Sir John was the first person granted the use of one of her Majesty’s ships to transport slaves from Africa to the Spanish colonies So proud was he of his trade that he introduced four slaves to his coat of arms along with the lions rampant Xrays played an important role in revealing the internal damage caused by sickle cell again as a metaphor for things normally hidden – for sickness within the body politic In The House That Jack Built 1987 (pictured above) a bank of Xrays creates the shape of a building Slumped on a chair in front of the house is a tattered stick figure while cut into the surface of the Xrays are letters reading “Jack’s House is built on 75 million dead black souls” Rodney reproduced a diagram demonstrating the most efficient way to cram people into a slave ship His caption reads “Conceptual patterning; black cells under a microscope” – mordant humour that appears in his work right from the start It enlivens a painting he did as a student at Trent Polytechnic How the West Was Won 1982 (pictured left) is an ironic take on the version of history propagated by Hollywood films like Henry Hathaway’s 1962 western of the same name desert backdrop a grinning cowboy holds a toy gun to the head of terrified Indian “The only good Injun is a dead Injun” is scrawled along the cowboy’s spine and around his stetson The delivery of this black comedy is deliberately absurd – as absurd as the propaganda used to justify the slaughter of native Americans glued onto the canvas as if to emphasise that while the narrative may be laughable an empty wheelchair (pictured above) uses sensors to navigate its lonely way around the space Rather than bringing the artist back to life the empty chair makes his untimely absence the more palpable More information about text formats We urgently need financing to survive. 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