Deptford X 2008

Deptford X Festival 2008: Celebrating 10 years of Deptford X!

The 2008 festival was curated by Julia Alveraz, to crate extensive programme of contemporary visual art exhibitions and events in and around SE8.

To mark our decade-long reign, an anniversary book, authored by Bob & Roberta Smith, with a foreword by Matthew Collings, entitled ‘Hijack Reality: Deptford X – A How To Guide To Organise A Really Top Notch Art Festival’, was published and launched during the festival.

Highlights of this years programme include Sarah Baker’s new video work ‘Studs’, and Yinka Shonibare’s ‘White Flag At Half Mist’, originally commissioned by the Hayward Gallery. Accompanying this will be the showing of Matt Stokes’ new film ‘Cipher’, a collaboration between the artist, pipe organists Kevin Bawyer and John Riley, and Fimbulvetr (a dark ambient music club in Edinburgh). 

“Ghost Trade and the Spectre of Change marks a seminal time in Deptford’s history. Working with a range of contemporary artists, and a variety of venues – including churches, galleries, shops, redundant spaces, and the constructed landscape – I have sought to create exhibitions and projects that draw out different aspects of trade present throughout Deptford’s past. At this interesting time in the London art world calendar, Deptford X represents the true essence of trade and art at grass roots level, allowing art, life and culture to respond to, and create, a new layer of currency in South East London.”  – Julia Alvarez, Curator, Deptford X 2008

Festival director: Matthew Couper