Giant Plushie

If you’re a lover of anime, fantasy, and mythology, you will love NOW Gallery’s new exhibition. ‘Like a Melody: Myths, Memories, and Fantasy’ by Charlotte Mei has transformed the gallery into an otherworldly realm with a 3-metre tall plushie cat, a female chain armour and ‘excavated’ artefacts from a fantasy world.

 

About Charlotte Mei

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

Charlotte Mei is an emerging British-Chinese artist and illustrator. The London-based artist is heavily inspired by anime and fantasy world.

 

“I have been obsessed with fantasy stories, films, literature, anime, and art for as long as I can remember. I wanted to create a fantasy world because I want to live in one.” – she says.

 

Let’s confess it! Us anime fans and lovers all things fantasy, we couldn’t relate more! Who doesn’t want to escape to a magical realm full of wizards, enchanted forests, and mystical places?

 

Charlotte Mei’s exhibition shows us that we don’t have to leave behind our enthusiasm towards fantasy as we’re leaving our childhood. Fantasy world is something that always have space in our lives regardless our age.

 

Charlotte Mei has collaborated with brands, such as Nike, Hermès, Beams Japan, and The New York Times, just to name a few; and exhibited in cities all over the world, from London to Tokyo to Hong Kong.

 

Like a Melody: Myths, Memories, and Fantasy

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

As a life-long fan of fantasy and anime, Charlotte has created her own magical world as her answer to the male-dominated, Eurocentric genre.

 

‘Like a Melody’ is a reference to a soundtrack from a 2001 film, ‘All About Lily Chou Chou’. Lily is an enigmatic character in the thriller, a singer whose music bewitches her listeners. The film is melancholic and sometimes disturbing, but its soundtrack is ethereal and enchanting.

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

 The exhibition is featuring large scale artworks, such as Mei’s signature pastoral style meadow paintings and a giant 3-metre tall adorable plushie cat.

 

Mei really enjoyed working with her large-scale artworks. It provided a sort of immersive experience to her, as the artworks’ sizes physically engulfed her which she found really fun.

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

The process of preparing for her new exhibition with NOW Gallery gave her confidence to authentically and boldly express her ideas and herself.

 

In front of the enchanting meadow paintings there is a mystical display featuring ‘excavated’ artefacts from a fantasy realm, such as ceramic vessels, grooming tools, and a ceramic cat with wings.

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

There are also sword fragments embellished with a pink heart and wings as well as a female chain armour on display to subvert the male-dominated fantasy genre.

 

“Some ideas are expressed best in painting, some in textile, some in clay.” – Mei explains. Adding that she often doesn’t really know where the artwork she is working on will go. She just lets to the process lead itself and see what the final outcome will be.

 

Mini Workshop

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

 Why not participate in a mini workshop while you’re there?

 

Activity sheets, pencils, glue, and scissors are all provided for a fun activity for kids and adults still kids at heart.

 

Simply colour and cut out the character and dress her in armour, a cat fancy dress, as a Lolita, or as a painter. The activity is completely free.

 

Practical Info

 

Photo: Urban Adventurer

 

 

Address

NOW Gallery | Soames Walk, London SE10 0SQ

 

Opening Times

29 March – 2 Jun 2024

 

Tue – Fri: 10am – 7pm

Sat: 10am – 5pm

Sun: 11am -4pm

 

Tickets

FREE | NO booking required

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for your next adventure? How do you like discovering a city you’ve never been before: like a tourist or like a local? A new AI-powered app helps you experiencing the authentic essence of a city. ‘Tourist vs Local’ by aireelty.com creates an exploration plan to explore your next destination on dual perspectives.