The Summer Exhibition | Grime Kids | The Bathing Ponds | Unsolved | Sambal Shiok...
Whether you’re going out and enjoying the sun, or staying in hiding from the heat, this week’s edition of The Week in Colour offers al fresco swimming, audiobooks about grime, tasty Malaysian laksa, bumper summer exhibitions and true crime TV series, as we reveal our weekly pick of things to see, visit, listen, watch and eat.
SEE: The Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy. Promising to be ‘the biggest, brightest and most colourful Summer exhibition yet’ the Royal Academy’s epic annual show is back with a massive multi-coloured splash for its 250th anniversary year. Co-curated by Grayson Perry, the RA’s historic galleries are transformed into a riotous and glorious celebration of ‘art made now’. Over 1,300 artworks have been handpicked by the committee and these include works across all mediums and genres – from famous names in the art world to previously undiscovered artists. Bold, dramatic, vibrant and perfectly over-the-top, this raucous love-affair of an exhibition will have you jumping with delight. The 250th Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy runs until 19th August.
For opening times and further information visit the official website and for updates on Twitter follow @Royalacademy and the hashtag #RASummer
LISTEN: Grime Kids. Love it or hate it, the odds are that if you live in London, or anywhere else for that matter, you’ve heard the dulcet tones of Grime music at some point. Traced right back to the 90’s, when kids growing up on East London’s council estates had a dream to make their voices heard, the genre has now made it to the mainstream, with record labels clamouring to sign up the most talented MCs. Artists such as Wiley, Stormzy, Skepta, Dizzee Raskal, JME and Ghetts are now considered household names in the UK music scene, and their powerful influence has led to parallel Grime movements popping up in countries as far afield as Algeria and South Korea. But how did this all happen? Grime Kids is the definitive story of this musical revolution, as told by DJ Target, who introduced Dizzee Raskal to Wiley (AKA the Godfather of Grime) in his bedroom in Bow, London. The audiobook, narrated by DJ Target himself, gives amazing behind-the-scenes access to Grime - from inception to modern day - and is told from the refreshing perspective of somebody who has had a front row seat for the whole ride.
Grime Kids is out now on audiobook via Audible.co.uk. Follow the man himself on Twitter @DJTarget
VISIT: The Bathing Ponds, Hampstead Heath. Finally, the right weather for some wild swimming! Take a ramble over the gorgeous wilderness of Hampstead Heath and then join the ducks in one of the swimming ponds (a men’s pond, ladies’ pond and mixed pond are available). Nestled amidst the trees and with a ‘no photography’ policy, the single-sex swimming ponds are lovely secluded spots to sunbathe, read and chat between dips in the water. These are also perfect spots to take in the sheer beauty of the Heath, with its wide expanses of rare natural habitats (which teams of dedicated volunteers help to preserve and care for). Before planning a trip it’s advisable to check the location on a map (or you risk getting lost in the various paths that criss-cross the Heath) and all visitors should abide by the rules which makes these ponds special and safe to enjoy.
Find out more about the ponds via the official website and check out updates on Twitter via @Ladiespond @HeathHands and @CityCorpHeath
WATCH: Unsolved. A question which always gets the pulses racing at Colour PR HQ is “who is better – Biggie or Tupac?”. Putting our differences aside on this particular can of worms, we can all at least agree that the new 10-part Netflix drama based on the tragic murders of these two hip-hop legends is seriously good. Unsolved is an American true crime anthology series, and this first season chronicles the dual LAPD investigations of Russell Poole, the original detective on the case, and Greg Kading, the cold case detective appointed some ten years later, into the controversial and still unsolved shootings of Tupac Shakur (played by Marcc Rose) and The Notorious B.I.G. (played by Wavyy Jonez). With a star studded, and very realistic looking and sounding cast, the new series is gripping from start to finish. Whether you’re a hip-hop fan or not this series will no doubt have you glued to the screen as you watch the detectives struggle to piece together the mysterious elements of these cold-blooded murders.
Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. is out now on Netflix. Check out @UnsolvedUSA for more info
DINE: Sambal Shiok. The UK’s first dedicated Malaysian laksa bar recently opened in Holloway Road, North London. The former pop-up, best known for its signature spicy noodle soups at a host of London street food markets, Shambal Shiok is the long-awaited permanent restaurant from Malaysian-born Chinese owner, Mandy Yin. Serving up a fiery selection of prawn chicken and vegan laksas, favourites including beef rendang and assam fish curry, and classic street food snacks like Malaysian fried chicken, this delicious new haunt has a menu that packs a punch. The perfect one-stop-shop for a quick, tasty and authentic taste of Malaysia, Sambal Shiok is a much-needed addition to the London’s bustling Malaysian food scene.
Follow @sambalshiok on Twitter for updates
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