Lilia Bakanova showed a short film (duration 6 mins 13 seconds) titled 'We used to be seaweeds' which included recorded sound and video from the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Accompanying the short film is a photobook with text, manually stitched with fishing line. We discussed how her film appeared less finished than the photobook, but was textural and deeply evocative through its sense of scale and loss.

Sam Parsons showed 'Whale Watching', consisting of acrylic, linen canvas, cotton, silk, neoprene, plastic packaging and old garments. We discussed how the sculptural arrangement echoed the carcass or jaw piece of a whale, producing a sense of violence. We also considered 'The Height of Summer', acrylic and plaster on plywood, and the use of colour and texture to create imagery redolent of heat, weather and landscape.

Lilia Bakanova is an interdisciplinary artist working with olfactory art, sculpture, video and installations.

Lilia Bakanova

Sam Parsons works from his studio in East London. His work has been exhibited at the Nunnery Gallery and The London Art Fair and has been commissioned by private collectors.

Sam Parsons

Images (from top)

1. Lilia Bakanova, 'We used to be seaweeds', 2023-2025, film still

2. Lilia Bakanova, 'We used to be seaweeds', 2023-2025, photobook, handstitched with fishing wire

3. Sam Parsons, 'Whale Watching', 2024, acrylic, linen canvas, cotton, silk, neoprene, plastic packaging and old garments, 165 x 140 x 130 cm

4. Sam Parsons, 'The Height of Summer', 2023, acrylic and plaster on plywood, 122 x 196 cm