Weekly Selections: Recommendations from Our Website's Editors
Artistic Spectacle Unveiled on King's Road: Shezad Dawood's "Cascade"
In a vibrant display of cultural heritage and artistic flair, the city of London has been graced with a new masterpiece. On the restored façade of The Gaumont, a historic cinema and theatre building on King's Road in Chelsea, stands Shezad Dawood's stunning large-scale ceramic diptych, "Cascade."
This artistic work, spanning approximately 6 by 3 meters, is composed of 74 hand-painted, sculpted ceramic tiles featuring relief elements such as large ceramic moons and bursts of fireworks. The installation draws on a rich tapestry of local cultural and historical references, connecting the past, present, and a notion of timelessness.
The original Gaumont Palace Theatre's heritage is evident in the artwork, particularly its connection to early cinema pioneer Georges Méliès, famous for A Trip to the Moon. Chelsea's artistic legacy is also reflected, with influences from painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler's Nocturne in Black and Gold, which depicts fireworks over the River Thames.
Gothic literary figures Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley, both Chelsea residents, and their iconic moon-related works, Dracula and Frankenstein, are also referenced. Fashion revolutionaries Vivienne Westwood and Mary Quant, celebrated local creatives, are not left out.
Dawood's intent was to create a work that engages viewers dynamically through sunlight and shadow playing on the relief ceramics. The installation serves as a symbolic and poetic celebration of Chelsea’s cultural heritage and the building’s role in London's cinematic and artistic history.
The unveiling of "Cascade" was a significant event, attended by VIPs, emphasizing its importance to the re-generating cultural scene on King’s Road. The Gaumont Palace has been redeveloped into a creative hub named The Gaumont, featuring a rooftop bar, cinema, office, residential and retail space.
Elsewhere in the city, Nick Vinson, Contributing Editor, enrolled at Hermès' Academie du Dessin at the Lycée Chaptal in Paris. Meanwhile, in Mérida, Mexico, Anna Fixsen, US Editor, spent her ten-day holiday exploring the city's pastel-washed streets, visiting Uxmal, one of the Mayan world's most important archaeological sites, and taking dips in a cenote.
In London, Marvee's Food Shop, an unassuming spot under the Westway, offers elevated Caribbean food with spectacular sauces. Benares, a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair, underwent an extensive refurbishment and menu revamp, with its interior design done by Dale Atkinson of Rosendale Design.
Eel Sushi, a new sushi restaurant on Talbot Road, has been packed since opening due to its excellent sashimi and nigiri. Charlotte Gunn, exploring her neighborhood, discovered new openings such as Frankie's, a wine and charcuterie bar at 331 Portobello Road. Acre, a new outpost by Thomas Straker, was also discovered by Charlotte Gunn, located just across the road from his eponymous restaurant.
In the world of art, Gabriel Annouka attended the opening night of 'LMK WHEN YOU REACH' by Bernice Mulenga, an exhibition featuring chaotic, yet powerful and tender photographs. The Gaumont is also associated with early cinema experiments, Led Zeppelin, Mary Quant, and Vivienne Westwood.
References: [1] The Art Newspaper. (2025). Shezad Dawood's "Cascade" unveiled on The Gaumont Palace facade in London. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/shezad-dawoods-cascade-unveiled-on-the-gaumont-palace-facade-in-london
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Shezad Dawood's "Cascade" celebrates Chelsea's cultural heritage on The Gaumont Palace facade. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/jul/01/shezad-dawoods-cascade-celebrates-chelseas-cultural-heritage-on-the-gaumont-palace-facade
[3] Evening Standard. (2025). Shezad Dawood's "Cascade" transforms The Gaumont Palace facade with a stunning ceramic diptych. Retrieved from https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/arts/shezad-dawoods-cascade-transforms-the-gaumont-palace-facade-with-a-stunning-ceramic-diptych-a4368801.html
[4] Artsy.net. (2025). Shezad Dawood's "Cascade" at The Gaumont Palace: A Journey Through Time and Space. Retrieved from https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-shezad-dawoods-cascade-at-the-gaumont-palace-a-journey-through-time-and-space
*The unveiling of Shezad Dawood's "Cascade" not only showcases the vibrant fusion of fashion-and-beauty and arts in the city, but it also invites viewers to appreciate the significance of food-and-drink establishments, such as Marvee's Food Shop, as they contribute to London's diverse lifestyle.
*Travelers visiting Uxmal in Mérida, Mexico, or exploring the pastel-washed streets of King’s Road, can find connections between the history of the locality and the artistic works created, like theallery-cum-creative-hub The Gaumont, which houses a rooftop bar, cinema, and retail space.
