Into the World of Balans: Soho No.60 Artwork

Into the World of Balans: Total Seduction

‘Into the World of Balans’ highlights artists, early on in their career, who explore identity and self-invention. Balans has incorporated new artists into its existing collection to enhance the seductive aesthetic, blending a range of disciplines to create an eclectic look and feel. Famously known for serving good food late into the night, the art collection at Balans enhances the fun and outrageous vibes within the interiors at No 60 and No 34.

The art collection has a range of both extravagant photography and paintings, which is all part of the Balans experience. Portraits documented by Phillip Prokopiou are the first instances of exploration into identity and representation. Informed by art history and pop culture, the images are the result of an ongoing dialogue between Phillip and his life partner Panos Poimenidis as a duo and their subjects.

These sit alongside Brazilian photographer Carolina Mizrahi, whose works also includes set design and video making. Carolina’s body of work focuses on both femininity and feminism through the exploration of gender norms and beauty standards. She creates portraits of her subjects with glorified positioning and powerful poise, creating a space for Balans customers to feel empowered themselves within an all-accepting environment.

Enhancing the look and feel of the collection, surrealist-abstract painters such as Phoebe Boddy and Iga Bielawksa are showcased. Bielawska explores numerous female identities and perspectives and following centuries of female objectification, she aims to reframe the representation of female figures. Boddy’s abstract paintings express the emotional and sensual pleasures of food and through this process, she produces comical and punchy works.

Artiq

Artiq is an international art agency that connects our clients to the cultural world, curating collections, and experiences, and guaranteeing fair pay for our artists.

Art unifies. Art sparks debate. Art inspires. And art can sustain livelihoods. By bringing relevant contemporary art into the commercial world, Artiq generates tangible returns for brands and regular income for artists.

We do this by sourcing art for lease or purchase from a huge and diverse pool of talent, to achieve engagement for our clients. For artists, we promise not just exposure but fair financial reward wherever their work is displayed.

We unlock art’s true worth and purpose, both for the people who make it, and the people who experience it every day. Our business creates more opportunities for artists, more art experiences for people, and is fostering a sustainable arts economy in which creatives can grow and thrive. Artiq creates impact with culture.

Artiq started in 2009 with a team of two. Today, it’s a devoted, multitalented group of over 30 (and growing) that includes curators, consultants, designers, researchers, coordinators, and technicians, working on projects around the world.

Isabelle Guyer

Isabelle Guyer is an experienced curator who focuses her knowledge of local and emerging artistic talent into designing thoughtful art collections for a range of clients and projects. Including, but not limited to corporate collections, hotels, student accommodation and public area programmes.

Isabelle holds a BA in Art History from Goldsmiths University and has been developing her curatorial practise at Artiq since 2017.

Artists:

Phillip Prokopiou:

London-based artist Phillip Prokopiou was born in South Africa to Greek immigrant parents. As a self-taught photographer, he established a practice in 2014 under the name Studio Prokopiou, co-founded with his partner in life and art, Greek native, Panos Poimenidis.

Studio Prokopiou has exhibited internationally and has been profiled in Vogue Italia, as well as nominated in The British Journal of Photography’s 2018 Ones To Watch Issue.

Cai, Giclee Print, 1189 x 841 mm

Carolina Mizrah:

Carolina was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, before going on to graduate at the London College of Fashion. She currently lives and works in London.

Often working with minimal colour palettes, her pieces convey different messages through the use of colour, playing for example with preconceptions on “girly” pastels and idealised femininity.

Through extreme colour blocking, Carolina immerses each character into the socio-sexual ideals specific to women with the intention of exposing and subverting them.

Carolina’s work was featured in Vogue Italy, Vogue Brazil, Vogue Portugal, Elle UK, Time Out Magazine and Swarovski among other publications and has been exhibited in art fairs across the UK and Brazil.

Avatar 03, Print, 800 x 1050 mm

Phoebe Boddy:

Phoebe’s abstract paintings explore the relations between shapes and forms within the negative space of the canvas while creating depth, movement and a sense of playfulness. The artist is inspired by day-to-day experiences as she observes the changes in our natural and artificial environments.

Her most recent series of works has been focusing on the act of experiencing food through sight, taste and smell. Her paintings aim to translate the emotions and responses that food can trigger, and the phenomenon of a taste being associated to a memory, in a specific space and time.

Phoebe graduated in Fine Arts at Loughborough University. Her work has been exhibited in London at The Brick Lane Gallery and The Trewman Brewery and is part of private and corporate collections across the UK.

Woke me up, Acrylic on Canvas, by Phoebe Boddy

The energy, blend of disciplines, range of subjects and colour within the collection captures the essence of Soho. The works encapsulate diversity and acceptance, as well as pushing the visual boundaries which may not typically be showcased within a restaurant space. Balans celebrate these emerging talents and invite you to come celebrate the works at any hour!