Markets, Memories and Mangoes is a new exhibition by Hounslow-based artist Alexis Parinas, celebrating the heritage, people and stories of Hounslow’s food markets. Working with members of the local community to create a new archive of photographs, Alexis has used this material to create four vibrant collages that evoke the life, colour and beauty of the markets.
The exhibition is part of a wider project exploring the heritage of Hounslow’s Food Markets and celebrating the diverse diaspora communities who use them. The markets are a source of the specialist ingredients needed for a wide range of cuisines, as well as acting as hubs for socialising and community. Alexis and a network of volunteers and local people have co-produced a visual archive, photographing the area’s fruit and vegetable stalls, butchers, fishmongers, and independent specialist food stores. The team have also collected interviews, creating an oral history of the communities that run and use the markets. This exhibition brings together this material in a creative reimagining of the archive, with Alexis collaging these photographs to create a series of co-produced images of markets.
The exhibition also presents video works by Alexis, including new animation made by five Year Twelve students at St Mark’s Catholic School in Hounslow. Students were asked to work together to creatively respond to prompts about the markets, with their words and drawings creating a animated collage on one strip of 35mm film. Accompanying video works poetically explore themes of ritual, transformation, home and communal making.
Alongside this exhibition, Alexis has facilitated a programme of workshops across spaces in Hounslow – from Chiswick House Kitchen Garden to Hounslow Arts Centre – exploring sustainable processes and engaging creatively with the project archive.
Markets, Memories and Mangoes is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to explore the heritage of Hounslow’s food markets. An accompanying exhibition, Market Stories, is also on view as part of the touring libraries exhibition programme. The project is delivered by Creative People and Places Hounslow Visual Arts Programme, supported by Arts Council England.
Alexis Parinas is an artist working across moving image, painting, printing and installation. Through explorations of intangible cultural heritage, they seek to archive, imagine, discover, nurture and pass down complex and expansive worlds through their practice. Alexis has exhibited work in the UK and abroad, and has been supported by organisations including Arts Council England, Barbican Centre, and Wysing Arts Centre.
With thanks to Georgia Pawelko and the students from St Mark’s Catholic School; Harvinder Bahra, the Kitchen Gardeners and the rest of the team at Chiswick House and Gardens; Peter Bennett; Cristina Schek; Caridad Parinas, Deo Parinas, Cory Babaran, and the Moreland family; the CPP Hounslow team; Hounslow Council and the Summer of Culture team; Mar Palaez Munoz; and every single volunteer and contributor to the project for your stories, creativity, generosity, and care.
CPP Hounslow 