On Sunday April 2nd we ran our first Out Of Body Pop event at EartH Kitchen in Dalston. We’ve done 4 of them now!!! For each DJ or live music set, a guest visual artist sat themselves next to the booth and made a ‘cover’ artwork.

These artworks reflected the music and the space, with guest dancers throwing shapes onstage and ticket-holders dancing below or making their own paintings on the mezzanine above.

We wanted to facilitate creativity by creating a new kind of space, and moreover by raising money for Arts Emergency.

I hope you have fun checking out the artworks and artists (click their names for Insta profiles), enjoy!

Reaching Into The Sun by Sara Santxs (canvas, 18 x 24 inch), responding to the overall 17.03.24 event theme of ‘Reaching into the sun’

The Space Between The Notes by Raman Visuals (canvas, 18 x 24 inch), responding to Kem Kem‘s DJ set

Disclosure by Lihui Liang/ ‘Counter Reality’ – (canvas, 24 x 18”) responding to Infinite Snds’ DJ set

‘People were really excited to listen to the music, they had started dancing and really engaging with the music, and I wanted to capture this moment, besides the movement I wanted to capture what they felt, so in the background I put some red and orange I remember, the colour of excstasy, the colour of happiness. For the people I used different skin tones, using the auras that I sensed from them; everyone is different, not just in race but in personality, and in my work I often use different skin tones. It’s a painting to capture the essence of the event, with great people, good energy and the music.’ – Lihui

André Cymone by Lian Brooks/ ‘Brooks Paintings‘ (paper, 17 x 12”), responding to Kim Cosmik’s DJ set ‘I wanted to create something that reflected Kim Cosmik’s other worldly music and how it relates to the overarching theme of out of body pop, seeking to portray this through physical figures that are engulfed in colour, with the points on each body highlighting the different elements of the body that are affected by music. The choice of colour is a reflection of how different sounds can make us feel and the dimensions they can transport us to!’ – Lian

Soft Fire by Sara Santxs (canvas board, 16.5 x 12″), painted over across the day

‘Art is usually my place of expression. Sometimes, it’s the only place I can fully put all my feelings down, especially the ones I try to hide. I tried to go with the theme of ‘soft fire’ [the unofficial theme of our second event] while also incorporating my feelings and the environment I was in.

Out of body pop was such a unique experience for me that it brought out this amazing piece. The music helped keep my overthinking in place and it helped being surrounded by artists and support from others. As to meaning, there isn’t a definite answer, but whatever the viewer can identify with themselves.’ – Sara

Ryuichi Sakamoto by Gina Ummney (canvas, 24 x 18”), responding to Anu’s DJ set

‘I was thinking about war and peace whilst painting, the distinctions and separations between freedom and war and peace, and how that impacts cultures and civilisations, and how we’re all kind of bound as one through that and within that.’ – Gina

This artwork was created to the sounds of an all-Ryuichi Sakamoto DJ set by Anu, as the legendary Japanese artist (and long-term inspiration to both Anu and Gina) had passed away that morning.

Pangaea by Olivia Martha (canvas, 8 x 10″), responding to Jefe’s DJ set

‘I think the encouragment to make people paint and explore a side to them that they don’t know so well, that’s great, it was great to be surrounded by people that just got into the zone and painted what they thought of, to hear new music and DJs, I can’t wait for the next one!’ – Olivia

Tricky by Angus (canvas, 16 x 20″), responding to de.index & Medallion Man’s DJ set

Having played the opening DJ set at our first event, Angus returned to paint the cover art for our second event’s opening set, responding to a swirling mass of Trip Hop, with tunes such as Ponderosa by Tricky, Sandpaper Kisses by Martina Topley-Bird and Unfinished Symphony by Massive Attack.

Parting Grasp by Harry/ ‘Bam Bam’ (canvas board, 18 x 24″), responding to REGALJASON’s live set

‘Parting Grasp is an experiment on simplicity in art. Interpreting the theme Soft Fire as the juxtaposition of love and loss.

REGALJASON’s Ascend was the inspiration for this and many other works, namely the lyrics;

“Oh I didn’t know what I might find,

I was down at my lowest low chasing that high

Oh I carry on my friend,

I was born to be someone who ascends”

It’s a farewell filled with both longing and acceptance, captured in the gentle grip of these hands. The cool blue background, like the depths of their emotions, contrasts with the warmth and vulnerability of the hands’ touch.’ – Harry

Lyle Campbell by Lola Missouri (canvas board, 8.25 x 12″), responding to Lyle Campbell’s live set‘While rotting in my room alone with my home comforts (art and a playlist) is my typical “safe space”, I felt so at peace creating alongside the music and other artists at oobp. The tunes/fun atmosphere got me into such a flow and I felt comfortable just getting into the ooze of the day, there were no wrong way to go about our processes – and the unabashed dancing at the end wrapped everything up into a fantastic gift that I’ll remember for a long time ❤.’ – Lola

Oklou by Hana (canvas, 20 x 29.5″), responding to DJ Plant’s DJ set

‘DJ Plant’s set was warm and upbeat, and the shapes in the painting formed so satisfyingly in response. Painting in reaction to a DJ is such a cool concept, I got to appreciate music and painting in a new way.’ – Hana

SSIEGE by Sunny Geng (canvas board, 12 x 16.5”), responding to Will Soer’s DJ set

‘I walked in the room containing all that free spirit with a nervous nerve.

I found my seat and sat to connect and create. 

Will’s energy filled the air and I inhaled as much as I can. 

Under the influence of all that musical magic, my brush stained the paper with its own burden. 

The pigments flowed as the rhythms penetrate my skin.  

The combination of the heard and the seen. 

The pursuit of pure expression.’ – Sunny

Fox The Fox by Flowa Friends (canvas board, 30 x 20”), responding to Rosy Ross’ closing DJ set

‘I developed this style over the pandemic, I was put on furlough (luckily) and had two months overall off – I found a lot of joy from makeup and simple line drawing and it all collided together in these silly flower / character drawings. Painting to music and around a club environment was definitely new, and at times a bit jarring! But the energy was lovely and giving yourself strict outlines to create was actually more freeing than nerve wracking 🙂 💖’ – Flowa Friends

D.Tiffany by Harry/ ‘Bam Bam’ (canvas, 12 x 8.25”)Harry came to our first event on a whim after reading about it online, and casually accepted the offer to paint with our ticket-holder tools. The day was a bit of a blur so we somehow missed seeing him finish off, and were so intrigued as to who did this wonderful piece, and only discovered his identity shortly before event two.

Sophie by Sian Flora (paper, 24 x 34”), responding to Angus’ opening DJ set’This image is a creation of shared energies – the energy of experiencing music performed by a friend and the making of an image by two friends together. There were no rules and no intention of end result, merely enjoying a moment to play.’ – Sian

Aleksi Perälä by unknown (canvas, 12 x 8.25”)

Surfer Girl by Brooks Paintings (glossy cardboard print, remaining A3 copies: 9)

£10, or £8 in combination with another piece

Verbie by Kerrie.IRL, (glossy cardboard print, remaining A4 copies: 19, remaining A2 copies: 12)

A4: £8, or £6 in combination with another piece

A2: £12, or £10 in combination with another piece