Sister Octopi: a collaborative exhibition celebrating Sisterhood

12:00 am - 12:00 am
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 - Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Omnibus Theatre

SISTER OCTOPI: two artists on different continents collaborate on a unique installation celebrating sisterhood.

A traveling exhibition featured at multiple locations in Dubai including DIFC Art Nights and World Art Dubai, the upcoming show marks the first appearance of Sister Octopi in the UK. Taking cues from its eponymous octopus, the versatile work transforms and adapts to inhabit new environments, making each installation a unique experience.

The artists will host a collaborative workshop inspired by the project on Saturday, March 11th from 11am to 1pm at the Omnibus Theater, Clapham Common Northside London SW4 0QW.

Sister Octopi is an immersive installation resulting from a long-distance collaboration between two artists and cousins: Dubai-based Natalya Konforti and London resident Justine Formentelli.
This long haul project began in 2017, following the suicides of a brother and cousin in close succession. Devastated and searching for a way through grief, the cousins began an artistic correspondence which eventually grew into the rich threads of an unusual family tapestry.

The work explores themes of identity, belonging and adaptation, paying tribute to the strength and resilience of sisterhood in the face of loss and tragedy. Separated by several oceans and time zones, the two artists responded to each other’s work and emotions, panel after panel. The process brought solace, deepened their connection and contributed to strengthening other family ties. Inspired by the natural world, their experience of expatriation and family heritage; this suspended universe is an invitation to wander along tentacular detours, immersed in a world of connections.