Following on from their extremely successful Charlie Phillips Archive Exhibition, the Muswell Hill Gallery are proud to announce A Celebration of Culture Exhibition exhibition celebrating Black History Month October 2022, and opening on Thursday October 27th at 5pm with a Special Inclusive Private View session with the artists in attendance.
Here we catch up with two rising artists Yolanda Chappell and Hannah Sanganoo from the show who answer the question posed to them by the gallery “What does it mean to you to live in a multi-cultural diverse community?”
Yolanda Chappell is an emerging artist from London's Winchmore Hill of Greek descent. A Fine Art graduate she has been drawing and creating since early childhood. This last year has seen her working with paper and collage which she uses to create familiar yet other worldly skyscapes and birds. Yolanda is inspired by the natural and spiritual worlds and uses her artwork to explore cultural beliefs, mythology and folklore.
”In my piece ‘Magic’, a crow symbolises bad luck in many cultures, however to the Native Americans it is a sign of good fortune and for Buddhists it symbolises protection. It is also seen as a bird of mystery and magic. We learn so much from diverse cultures and ‘Magic’ celebrates this.”
Yolanda Chappell
What does it mean to you to live in a multi-cultural diverse community? How does you artwork piece reflect this?
The biggest reason I love living in London is the huge diversity of people and cultures. I feel that this diversity is what makes living here so great. People coming together from all over the world and having different things to offer communities, learning from each other and celebrating each other is what makes life interesting to me.
I’d like to think my artwork speaks to people from varied cultures in different ways. In my piece ‘Magic’, the crow symbolises different meanings for different cultures as does the moon. For example, in Buddhism the moon represents enlightenment whilst in Hinduism it can be linked to creation, life and mortal existence.
What do you express about yourself through your artwork?
I feel like my current work expresses my interest in spiritualism, culture and mythology
What do you hope A Celebration of Cultures Exhibition will bring to you as an artist and what are you looking forward to in this show
This is the first time I’m exhibiting my current work so I’m hoping to learn from the experience of getting my work out there and meeting other artists.
What influences/inspirations do you have art wise or anything else and what are they so special to you
I’ve recently moved to my new home which is quite high up and surrounded by trees, mostly pines. There is such a big variation of birds that are around so I am very inspired by nature. Dreams and emotions also inspire me creatively however art in all its forms always inspires me.
Do you think that 'art flows between cultures' and do you have any examples in your own journey that you can talk about here
Art definitely moves between cultures. We can all experience art in different ways but the fact that we make it or experience it and come together and communicate different ideas, feelings and emotions ultimately encourages identity whilst binding cultures and communities together. I was born in London but am of Greek descent and I’m always interested in different cultures and beliefs and how we experience our environments as well as how cultures evolve.
Hannah Sanganoo 
Hannah is an emerging artist from Islington who makes her debut in A Celebration Of Culture Exhibition opening on Thursday October 27th at the Muswell Hill Gallery from 5pm.
What does it mean to you to live in a multi-cultural diverse community? How does you artwork piece reflect this?
It teaches me to respect other cultures and have understanding that the world is diverse, beautiful and scary, there is so much more out there to learn from each other. But what I have shown in my art piece is that dance, music is universal we can all relate.
What do you express about yourself through your artwork?
I express, colour, movement, freedom through dance which I enjoy and I used to teach.
What do you hope A Celebration of Cultures Exhibition will bring to you as an artist and what are you looking forward to in this show
As a self made artist I hope this exhibition will bring me inspiration from other artists as well as socialising and focusing on becoming a better artist.
What influences/inspirations do you have art wise or anything else and what are they so special to you
St. Lucia inspires me as that's my heritage. The people, vast colours, amazing landscapes, animals, especially birds and food! That's why it's so special to me.
Do you think that 'art flows between cultures' and do you have any examples in your own journey that you can talk about here
Yes I believe art does…all cultures are inspired and motivated by the environment they live in. As we naturally use our senses that lays the foundation for artists to be influenced. As I previously said St. Lucia has influenced me.
A Celebration of Culture Exhibition open runs from Thursday 26th October - Sunday 30th October 2022 at the Muswell Hill Gallery, 21 High Street, Hornsey, London, N8 7QB. The Inclusive Private View opens Thursday October 26th from 5pm-8pm and follow MHG on Instagram: @muswellhillgallery