Flatness
Contact Flatness
Website: flatness.eu
Instagram: @flatness.eu
Twitter: shama_khanna
Events
Steve & Samantha EP Launch
29 April 2023
Creative Writing Workshop with Babylon Migrant Project
26th April 2023
February Half Term Events
A two day programme for all ages
Feb 14 & 18 2023
Swap Shop & Screening
14 January 2023
Getting there
FormaHQ, 140 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4GW. Located on the ground floor with a wheelchair accessible toilet.
Find their publication Queer Diasporic Futurity at Presse Books.
Forma would like to thank Flatness and all contributors to the programme: Ali Yellop, Babylon Migrants Project, Design Print Bind, Hannah le Feuvre, Jack Jeans, Richard Court, Tomás Fernandez Vértiz, Ulijona Odišarija, Southwark Notes and Steve & Samantha.
Oasis Residency: Flatness
September 2022 – April 2023
Flatness were Oasis residents at Forma HQ and Peveril Gardens during Autumn and Winter 2022/23. The Fellowship invited socially engaged practitioners to develop and deliver a cultural programme that strengthens the bridge between FormaHQ and our local communities. Oasis takes its name from the research and conversations initiated by the lead creatives in the redevelopment of Peveril Gardens and FormaHQ. Flatness responded to a brief for a cultural programme that embraced Kuri’s vision of an oasis – a safe place where creatives and local residents can take part in cultural activities and enjoy the benefits of Peveril Gardens.
About
Flatness is a long-running ‘site of resistance’ (Dr Sylvia Theuri) inspired by the expanses of the screen, the outdoors and of community.
For Oasis, Flatness (comprising founder, Shama Khanna, in collaboration with Beth Bramich and a network of contributors) curated a short cultural programme to build on Queer Diasporic Futurity, a book project produced in partnership with not/nowhere artist workers’ co-op and published by Social Art Publications in July 2022. Queer Diasporic Futurity (QDF) brought together themes of redistributing power, intersectional resistance and healing. The project found new ways of working, IRL and in print, using publishing as a pause and ongoing process to reflect on relationships, communities, collaboration and interdependence.
Events
Swap Shop
14 January 2023, 10-4pm
Early in 2023, Flatness organised a swap shop, inspired by a desire observed in the garden for offering useful items that were no longer needed. Visitors brought clothes, homeware, books, kids’ clothes and toys, plants and seeds, art materials, skills and knowledge to swap or donate. Jack Jeans hosted a knowledge exchange about regenerative gardening and brought seed bombs for visitors to spread around the local area. He also donated a series of handmade insect homes to Peveril Gardens for bees and other invertebrates to nest in. Southwark Notes shared information and materials from all the recent local struggles and gathered responses through informal chats around the question of what do we mean when we say ‘Community’?
February Half Term Events
14 + 18 February 2023, 12-3pm
Flatness hosted a series of activities, workshops and tours focused on gardening, making, voicing, reusing and skill sharing.
Winter Wellness Workshop
Ali Yellop guided us to create our own medicinal body balms, which can aid in soothing chesty coughs, as well as achy joints and bones. Loose herbs were also offered for making winter wellness tea bag blends.
Sign-making for the Garden
A drawing and sign-painting activity exploring how we inhabit the garden together, led by design team Design Print Bind. Together we thought about how we can welcome all kinds of life into Peveril Gardens.
Peveril Gardens Tours
Local gardener Richard Court led introductions to Peveril Gardens every hour, sharing knowledge about how to identify plants and the work that goes into maintaining this rooftop oasis. Learn more about the garden and how to get involved.
Outfitting Session
Hosted by artists Hannah le Feuvre and Ulijona Odišarija
Outfitting was an invitation to clear out closets and bring old and unwanted clothes and accessories to make new outfits together. This was an afternoon of swapping, donating and styling old and new garments, sharing styling tips and telling each other how good we look in a comfortable and safe environment.
The session included food and music and mending tools were available to sort out any holes and rips on the go.
Creative Writing Workshop with Babylon Migrant Project
26th April, 5–7pm
This creative writing workshop was for migrants who want to try writing about their experiences. Co-hosted by Babylon Migrant Project and facilitated by Erica Masserano, it was open to complete beginners and people who enjoy storytelling.
Steve & Samantha EP Launch
29 April 2023, from 6pm
Flatness and Presse Books hosted a gig by Steve & Samantha to celebrate the launch of their new EP 'Better is Better' and the culmination of Flatness’s residency. Ulijona Odišarija (one half of Steve & Samantha alongside James Lowne) is a long-standing contributor to Flatness and co-hosted the Outfitting event in February. The EP is available to listen on all streaming platforms, including bandcamp.
Interview with Richard Court
Listen to a conversation between local gardener Richard Court and Flatness founder Shama Khanna here.
Resources and Network:
Walworth Community Gardening Network
Southwark Notes
SLUG (South London Urban Growers)
Bridgehouse Gardens
Queer Diasporic Futurity by Flatness
misery medicine
Brookwood Triangle garden
Kipling Community garden
Flatness
Future events:
Presse Book Fair with a new zine by Jack Jeans
Bender Defender sessions
Read more about Peveril Gardens here.
Image credit
Image credits:
Queer Diasporic Futurity book launch July 2022. Image by Sophie Le Roux.
Illustration by Design Print Bind.
Portrait of Richard Court by Shama Khanna.
Event photography by Forma.