571 Gallery

'Island Life’ was a two-week laboratory held in 571 Gallery and its surroundings to physically test out the more ephemeral and itinerant practices that is The Engine Room.

In the summer of 2022, ‘The Oxford Road Times’, a free 28-page newspaper distributed to shops and businesses along the Oxford Road and housed in Reading Museum, contained documentation of performances, actions and happenings as well as propositions for future public sculptures and projects without a finite conclusion.

‘Island Life’ physically realised some of these propositions through a series of events, gatherings, talks and screenings alongside creating new site-specific works.

‘Island Life’ playfully riffs off the Grace Jones compilation album. Our proposal is to be a compilation.

A mixtape.

Thank you to all who supported us, in particular CGL Change Grow Live, The Oasis, The Engine Room, The Lost Museum, The Pavilion, The Atrium and Launchpad 135.
A debt of gratitude to the people of the Oxford Road. Your generosity and input were greater than you can ever know with how you shaped this project from the outset.
Special mentions: Sumaya Bakhsh, Gareth Evans, Gill G Sinclair, Darren Horvath, Sarah Zalait, Jim Pooley, Mike Taylor.

This project has been made possible by Historic England, HSHAZ (High Street Heritage Action Zone) Reading Borough Council,