Mimosa House, 47 Theobalds Rd, London, WC1X 8SP
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Daria Khan started Mimosa House in 2017 in the back of a half-abandoned office building on Hanover Square, eccentric in layout but handily close to Oxford Circus. Support from the Arts Council England enabled a move from that eponymous origin to a purpose-converted building in Holborn, with two substantial floors of exhibition space from 2021. Along the way, the gallery converted to charitable status. The programme has remained consistent: experimentation and collaboration in line with the stated aims of ‘supporting women and queer artists and communities’ and ‘focusing on the fluidity of identity and recognising the need for change’. I guess such a programme might appeal primarily to the supported groups – admittedly up to 60% of the population – but I have always found it interesting from my perspective within the 40%.
Khan favours conceptually conceived group shows: take ‘XVII. The Age of Nymphs’, a consideration of revolutionary politics in the context of the cicada’s life cycle; ‘Cosmic Mother’, exploring the deceptiveness of women’s emancipation under communism, and 2022’s expanded view of and around the Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, the Dada artist often credited with inspiring Duchamp’s use of a urinal. The current show elevates the ambition and partnership. ‘Transfeminisms’ is due to unfold over 2024 in five chapters, all of which will then feature simultaneously at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, USA. Khan has curated it together with three other international curators: the subject is ‘pressing and ongoing issues faced by women, queer and trans people across the globe’. The first chapter (to 20th April), looking at ‘Activism and Resistance’, includes some powerful works.
London’s gallery scene is varied, from small artist-run spaces to major institutions and everything in between. Each week, art writer and curator Paul Carey-Kent gives a personal view of a space worth visiting.
