Multiple locations, London, UK, 2015—2017
Project Text
Whilst working as a production assistant in a craft brewery in East London, Zahedi established a community based social-enterprise, in the form of a neo-diasporic pop-up bar. This social sculpture became a site through which he hosted a series of speculative grass-roots interventions, aiming to criticaly address ideas of togetherness and community in an age, and in a city, of rampant individuation.
Iterations of the installation were held at the St Ethelburga’s Centre, Maida Hill Place, The Riverside Gallery, Brixton East, Lambeth Palace and many more locations.
Collaborators: Jason Codrington, Xim Sum, Arsalan Isa, Samiya Rashid, Mariam Rashid, Ahmed Elshimi, Mohammed Elshimi, Fahad Khalid, Derkan Dogan, William Barylo, Square Root London, OOMK zine, Open School East, Ehsan Fathi, Abu Musa, Maida Hill Place, Imad Ahmed, Shopna Nessa, Palm II Clapton, Selma Ahmed, Salmana Ahmed, Meryem Meg, St Ethelburga’s centre, The River Gallery, Moustafa Hassan, Mohammed Rashid, Hyder Mohsin.
Image Gallery
Video Documentation
Project Press
Diasporic Nomads Enchanting London, William Barylo for Huffington Post source
Excerpt
I had the chance to talk with the founder Abbas Zahedi, an artist and performance poet to hear more about this “alternative, nomadic approach to cuisine and culture.” Abbas descends from a line of traditional Persian drinks makers and was inspired by his recent experience of managing events at Rumi’s Cave, a vivid community hub in Kilburn. He wanted to develop a collective space “committed to sustainable arts and cultural projects in the U.K.” Being myself a combination of trans-cultural and trans-national identities, cultures and heritages, I could immediately relate to the concept.
Abbas Zahedi // عباس زاهدی // abbzah.com 