Carmela Vienna examines how personal trauma is depicted in Frida Kahlo's ‘Henry Ford Hospital’ and Lady Gaga's ‘911’.

I caress their baby in my hands. I stroke the texture of her hot pink satin cover with my thumbs as her slippery surface is suddenly disrupted by a slightly stickier one. Two red claw-like hands (or feet) stretch across the centre of the cover, just about distinguishable enough from the raging pink backdrop. My eyes are toying between the vivaciously seductive pink and the subtly, yet almost aggressive and traumatic imprints of red. They say never judge a book by its cover – but I’m already bewitched by this one.

In little more than a decade, the internet has become an integral part of the human experience, where almost everything we do happens within one of a few channels that we’re told are meant for us to learn, connect, and express. Platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok are creating culture, like a machine, they’re generators of trends and challenges with an impact felt across industries and in social spaces – and one of the most noticeable shifts in mainstream consumerism is the current obsession surrounding everything “vintage” (but I guess only if you’re on THAT side of Tik Tok). What has resulted is the commodification of vintage - not just as it relates to fashion - but as a concept, aesthetic, and lifestyle.

On the 17th of March, the elusive exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s 'Infinity Mirror Rooms' was miraculously in front of us. And amid all the hype and excitement, I was left feeling guiltily underwhelmed.

‘Disguise’ is a poetry sequence inspired by an exhibition with the same title I explored almost a decade ago. Also inspired by Dada sound poetry, it explores the journey of a person’s personal psychological development. Artist Jenya Stashkov created the illustrations to compliment the dada-esque poetry style.

A short poem written in a state of latent consciousness which swerves back and forth between works of art, history and literature, all the while retaining a menacing surrealist overtone.

This article looks to explore a trend in cinematic releases from the last five years that can help to navigate late capitalism’s ‘turn from belief to aesthetics’ (Fisher, 2009: 5). These films include: The Neon Demon (2016), Revenge (2017), Mandy (2018), Climax (2018), Assassination Nation (2018), and Uncut Gems (2019). The presence of cinematography overwhelms the screen, leading to the subversion of conventional narrative structures.

The purpose of this journal is to explore how contemporary artists use textile methods and how they apply these to give meaning to their work. I have done so by researching four key artists; Freddie Robbins, Alice Kettle, Kayla Mattes and Channing Hansen, to give a scope of four different textile processes and how these behave. In these cases, I found that the artists employed materiality, metaphor and tactility in the digital world alongside their process of making as a way to give meaning.

Round Lemon’s WORM exhibition saw an amalgamation of digital works made by various artists across the world. It showcased Digital Art in many forms: video, gif loops, interactive writing, digital collage and more. But what surprised me about this show was that it totally transformed my perception of what digital art actually is, giving me an insight into how the digital can be used as a tool to enrich an Artist’s practice in a multitude of ways.

With the looming possibility of a 10-year prison sentence for damaging statues on the horizon, the past year has brought public art to the foreground like never before.

Carmela Vienna examines the after-images of Frida Kahlo and Lady Gaga through this Dissertation. Dissecting their symbolism, approaches and pathologies through a matrixial lens, Carmela draws similarities between the traumas of both Women’s works.

I begin this at around 2.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon, with not long to work as in half an hour I have to pick up my imaginary children from school. Little Susie and Jeremy won’t be happy if I am late, and my hypothetical husband would not bring himself away from the office early to collect them (he, of course, can happily work until 5 without issue).

Patrik Dvorscak centres his work around the exploration of figures and their relationship with the surrounding environment. His works expose the stark reality and lost individuality of our world. Here, Patrik discusses the impact of social media on our society and how art can help us to restore our long-forgotten humanity.

With her pain starting before she was even born (Bourgeois, 2007)[1], Louise is an artist who was constantly haunted by her own nostalgia.

A short story by Alexander Clarke.

In an attempt to tie ZEST Hall’s past exhibition “EARTH” and the upcoming exhibition “BODY” together, I thought I’d dig into protest art that responds to climate change.

Cuban Born artist Ana Mendieta is an icon that I’m always compelled to return to. Her relationship to organic matter, paired with the application of her body in her work created new territory in 1970’s contemporary performance and feminist practices. 

We are thrilled to announce that we are officially launching our Round Lemon Art Shop on Monday!

To celebrate this amazing news, we are giving one lucky lemon the chance to WIN some of our products and more!

This Triweekly we dive into the wonders of Big Magic and creative living…

Reading Szapocznikow’s work from the context of a holocaust survivor and infertile woman, as well as cancer patient - I’m perhaps suggesting that the invasive leakage of swelling forms might not only depict her trauma with cancer, but her trauma with life.

Round Lemon would like to introduce to you ZEST Hall’s very first exhibition: Protest for Progress! Brought to you in partnership with Leeds City Museum, this exhibition features work from 32 artists across the globe, as well as showcasing two collections from Leeds City Museum.

Now that we’ve been in lockdown for a while, we’re all aware of the pandemic’s immediate impact on our lives, and all the challenges we endure. We stopped moving around, stopped consuming…

We began the launch of Round Lemon and ZEST during the protests surrounding the murder of George Floyd, as well as countless other black people killed at the hands of police brutality.

Why does the work of the Pre-Raphaelites feel as radical as ever?

Marcel Duchamp was a French-American painter and sculptor. His ‘Readymade’ sculptures transformed ordinary objects into extraordinary works of art, from a bicycle wheel to bottle rack, and his infamous urinal piece ‘Fountain’.

Ahndraya Parlato’s book dredges grief from all of the places it hides in us, its own relentless presence one that can color every day, regardless of whether the loss is in our past or merely one we anticipate.

Laocoön is an inflatable sculpture by Sanford Biggers which has sparked much political controversy. Let’s begin by looking at this artwork through the lens of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Carmela Vienna examines how personal trauma is depicted in Frida Kahlo's ‘Henry Ford Hospital’ and Lady Gaga's ‘911’.

Ever asked yourself the question, Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? Or why are there no famous female artists? Or even which gender is better at art? Click to find out more about the Gender Gap in Art.

The music lover, the murder painter, the suspected Ripper, the women supporter, and the collaborator - Sickert was a multifaceted character who had a profound impact on art and artists during the turn of the 20th century.

Have you ever experienced a spine-tingling euphoria so soothing that it feels like champagne bubbles fizzing along your spine? You might realize a feeling like this as you encounter ‘Weird Sensations Feel Good: The world of ASMR’ at London’s Design Museum.

People always say, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’. Lubaina Himid has decorated this canvas with lemons, but exactly how many lemons are there in this painting? The title is ‘Slice Ten Lemons’ - but we count 11.

Nostalgia is a feeling we’re familiar with. It’s a sense that’s stimulated so often we hardly notice it anymore. The word has many meanings today that deserve to be discussed before looking at the impact and role of nostalgia in contemporary pop culture.

The DaVinci of Debt art instalment was a profound piece of art that served as an allegory for Americanised consumption in the modern world. Constructed with the real diplomas of American graduate, each degree is valued at just over $180,000 (the average cost of a four-year college education in the US). The piece can therefore be said to be pragmatically valued at $470 million.

Tim Noble’s exhibition ‘Imaginary Beings’ at Darren Flook gallery is the artist’s first solo show since departing from the post-YBA power punk art duo Noble and Webster. Their work always retained a provocative element and often deconstructed the sacredness surrounding ‘high’ art. Noble’s solo exhibition at Darren Flook gallery is no dilution of this energy.

Exploring historical nuclear incidents of the 1957 Windscale Fires and 2005 Sellafield Thorp leak through painting, poetry, and conversation with illustrator and printmaker Katie Edwards.

An investigation into contemporary drag performance and gender expression exploring ideas around gender identity, queer politics and community, and its intersection with drag.

Sometimes I find myself thinking about exhibitions I’ve missed that I really wanted to see. What got in the way? Whether it be due to time, money or travel restrictions, I want to vow that I never have to make a post like this again.

Rosalind Nashashibi had the recent honour of being named the National Gallery’s first Artist-in-Residence. Whilst Nashashibi predominantly works in film, during her residency she experimented with painting. Duality abounds in Nashashibi’s paintings, something which the artist has referred to herself as the connection between the conscious and the unconscious, or a prefiguring of certain characteristics in embryo.

‘In Praise’ was an exhibition held in March at the Belvoir Art Gallery in Leicester, curated by the extraordinary talented Shazia Rashida Osman. Curated by a Muslim Woman, and adorned with works by Muslim Women, the exhibition showcased the beauty of Islam through its intricate body of art.

The 37th edition of London Original Print Fair will be held at new venue Somerset House for 2022, showcasing prints spanning across 5 centuries of Artists - from old masters such as Dürer and Rembrandt to the likes of contemporary icons Bourgeois and Bacon.

Alina Saffron, an art photographer from St.Petersburg, brings a fresh perspective to the subject of anatomy showing that it not only has a vital function, but can also artistically translate beauty.

I caress their baby in my hands. I stroke the texture of her hot pink satin cover with my thumbs as her slippery surface is suddenly disrupted by a slightly stickier one. Two red claw-like hands (or feet) stretch across the centre of the cover, just about distinguishable enough from the raging pink backdrop. My eyes are toying between the vivaciously seductive pink and the subtly, yet almost aggressive and traumatic imprints of red. They say never judge a book by its cover – but I’m already bewitched by this one.

Sara Cwynar’s monograph, Glass Life, is striking from the moment one encounters its spine on a shelf. It would not be out of place with bound periodicals in a library. It’s vibrant red leatherette, matching fore-edges, and white stamped text create an immediate relationship with the aesthetic of the ‘archive’. The cover, with its glossy, hyper-saturated studio images of roses tipped-in, vaguely recalls a 1980s photo album in its style, though initially it’s hard to place why.

In little more than a decade, the internet has become an integral part of the human experience, where almost everything we do happens within one of a few channels that we’re told are meant for us to learn, connect, and express. Platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok are creating culture, like a machine, they’re generators of trends and challenges with an impact felt across industries and in social spaces – and one of the most noticeable shifts in mainstream consumerism is the current obsession surrounding everything “vintage” (but I guess only if you’re on THAT side of Tik Tok). What has resulted is the commodification of vintage - not just as it relates to fashion - but as a concept, aesthetic, and lifestyle.

Is Bottega Veneta yet another Luxury Brand with an ethos driven by consumer culture, or are they a brand genuinely aspiring to become the forefront of fashion sustainability?

When we think about ourselves in the digital matrix, it can become difficult to remember that it’s not all made for us. The Truman Show is a fascinating project because we collectively have not caught up to an evitable reality in our own online existence that transcends in the film’s narrative.

On the 17th of March, the elusive exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s 'Infinity Mirror Rooms' was miraculously in front of us. And amid all the hype and excitement, I was left feeling guiltily underwhelmed.

One might be disappointed if expecting the title ‘Artery’ of Allison Katz’s exhibition, to refer to the fleshy conduit which carries rich blood from the heart - and its associated symbolism (as the exhibition catalogue analogously declares). However, after experiencing Katz’s exhibition of paintings at The Camden Art Centre, I felt a more apt reading of the title to be Art-ery: as in trick-ery, Tom fool-ery, or artfulness. For this is a show very much of one-liners, of jokes, puns, playing with materials and random associations.

What happens when the effect of seeing an artwork is such that you look away all the while aching to look at it again? But this time, you SEE. You take it in. You understand it. You shudder with realisation. And then, you smile in cognizance.

This is closest to describing what I felt while visiting the recent exhibition at Tate Modern – Surrealism Beyond Borders.

Warli art - named after the Warli tribe - is an ancient folk art found mainly in the state of Maharshatra, India. ‘Warli’ is derived from the word ‘Warla’ which means ‘a piece of land’. According to historians, Warli Art’s origins can be traced back to 2,500 – 3000 BC.

HBO’s Euphoria immediately caught eyes with its unforgettable glittery neon makeup looks, but the makeup serves a purpose much larger than merely pushing beauty norms. In fact, apart from the iconic cinematography and music, makeup is a crucial pillar of Euphoria’s success and is used as a tool to drive the plot forward by visualizing the inner transformation of the characters.

It was not so long ago when I went to Derby Museum and Art Gallery to see the Hayward gallery touring exhibition of Claude Cahun: Beneath This Mask. This Article includes great resources to learn about Claude Cahun, as well as multilayered exhibition critique/greater dialogue on Art Institutions.

Ruth October is an abstract artist who believes art has the power to heal and is key to well-being. Her expressive works are guided by how she is feeling when creating a piece. Her bold colour palette is key in creating works that spark joy and bring to life the unseen.

Rising, sinking, holding on, letting go. DeSantis navigates turbulent moments of adolescence in his latest photography series ‘The Lost Boy’. With a remarkable eye for colour, it’s no surprise that the 17 year old’s work has already been exhibited internationally. I caught up with Ethan to learn more about The Lost Boy - I Feel Free and Triumph*…

An Interview between Round Lemon’s Zest Hall Curator Andreea Pislaru, and Bárbara Ramos, our first artist in residence. The artist investigates the contrast between the real and the imaginary, light and dark, the dreamlike and the non-place. Her creatures are a pure expression of existence without any baggage or influence from the material world.

Born and raised in Birmingham, artist Beer Baby talks about reaffirming her artistic style, running an artist-led collective, and the process behind her piece ‘Glowing’, which features in our Round Lemon X SHOUT Digital Shout Outs exhibition.

Allow me to introduce you to Roda, a Greek artist who is currently studying Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent. His practice investigates issues of inequality, greed and power, in a socio-politic cultural context, and his ambition to push limits is revealed by both the concepts and the diverse choice of mediums. The artist’s response to the RL X SHOUT Exhibition unveils an exquisite visual language that intrigues me.

Irina Tall’s personal mythologies echo queer personal symbolisms: haunting distorted memories form into ghastly narratives. Sirins - half human and half bird creatures - swoop across gloomy skies, and the mark-making of these creatures is dramatic, completely full of energy. Irina talks about her use of monochrome, surprising materials and the iconography of the Sirin.

Lara is a 22-year-old art student that likes to explore identity in relation to herself and others in their practice. Growing up in rural Portugal, her earlier practice was heavily influenced by majolica pottery and ‘azulejos’. This, paired with her love for graphic novels and manga has resulted in narrative-driven drawing practice. They view their practice as ‘escapism from the mundane every day’.

Imagine as we go by our daily routines, sculptures float above us and around us - sculptures we can even walk though. These are objects we are oblivious to. Lisa Moro’s Fertility Games uses digital sculptures in this manner.

Let me introduce you to Birmingham’s pioneering Collage Maker: Adam Wynn. Multi-disciplinary Artist, Founder of Birmingham Collage Collective and co-founder of Collage Zine Triple One Five, Adam is taking the Birmingham Art scene by storm. His satirically political yet critical works scrutinise British politics and culture, allowing us to access heavy topics through an authentic and subconscious form of cut and paste, all whilst having a good chuckle.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Artist Diogo Duarte, exploring the portrayal of mystery in the artistic setting of cruising grounds. His work has a supernatural feel, and I’m fascinated by his presentation of such via the medium of tarot cards. Intrigued, I was eager to find out more about Diogo and his involvement in the Round Lemon’s ‘SHOUT’ Exhibition.

Over the course of 9 days in the November of 2021 – a conversation between Round Lemon writer Liv Collins, and artist Harry Grundy takes place. Over email, we chat about his piece Pearls Before Swine, ideas for wobbly outdoor sculptures – and the contentious relationship between art and money. This is an artist who is unafraid to say it how it is – phlegm and all.

Artist Toby Hawkins talks to Bethan Jayne about his experimental photography journey, passion for words and shares some useful advice for artists who are battling the creative employment industry. Toby’s work ‘A Scattering of Objects’ is currently being shown in Round Lemon’s SQUASH exhibition at Parkside Gallery.

Born in Brum and raised in the Black Country, Grace is an artist who takes pride in her roots and uses her life experiences to inform her manipulation of British tat.

Strange figures encompass tree like structures with protruding long noses and inquisitive eyes. They resemble some humanly qualities, but maintain an overwhelming sense of ‘otherness’. Injected with bold colours and intricate mark-making, Jenya’s illustrations push the boundaries of contemporary surrealism.

Rambling noisy bodies and charged embraces occupy Batham’s ‘Three Lions’ in sweeping shades of greens and blues, as I can hear the celebratory chanting of an ecstatic football crowd. With an academic background in Human sciences and an enthusiasm for paint, it’s not surprising that Ruth turned to art to capture the essence of both the human form and its relationships through various types of portraiture. Having had work featured in Round Lemon’s Kitchen Gallery Exhibition in October, I was intrigued to find out more about Ruth’s influences and decision making when it comes to collecting people on canvas.

Leeds based Artist Sarah talks to us about verbs as inspiration, the importance of spatial architecture and most importantly, trusting your gut. Sarah showcased some of her work as part of Round Lemon’s ‘Default’ exhibition.

Part of Round Lemon’s Default Exhibition, Wolfson is a practitioner who creates both 2D and 3D work inspired by Constructivist and Futurist movements.

Tyler is a Digital Collage and Public Artist living and working in Bangkok. Creating political landscapes through the lens of queer fantasy, Tyler’s style is formed through his own experiences as a Gay American Artist and his queer representation of reality. Using various digital applications and programming to create interactive art workshops with the Asian community, Tyler’s practice is educational and accessible as well as chaotic yet peculiar. Tyler is also an exhibiting artist at Round Lemon’s ‘WORM’ Exhibition.

Featured in Round Lemon’s ‘WORM’ exhibition, Hannah Stratford’s works are a combination of sculpture, text and digital collage. Playing with the notions of temporality, material value, seduction, eroticisim and the juvenile, Hannah’s practice is both bodily and captivating. Here I talk to Hannah about the intersection between text and form, as well as her future plans as an Artist now that she’s graduated.

Robert Ladislas Derr’s piece ‘Safe Space’ was featured in Round Lemon’s online exhibition, BODY. The work involved Derr holding the Plow Yoga pose naked in a forest, with a lit candle in his anus as the sun set. Intrigued, I talk to Robert about the piece, his intentions behind it, and the role of humour in performance art.

With work Featured in both Round Lemon’s ‘Earth’ and ‘ONE’ Exhibitions, Herber talks to us about her processes of deconstruction, Greek influences, and avid research into the Anthropocene.

Toying with both the uncomfortable and the familiar, Chantelle Boyle’s sculptures feel partially sinister whilst maintaining a sense of friendliness. Featured in Round Lemon’s ‘April Fish’ Exhibition, Chantelle is also the runner up to the Round Lemon Award 2021.

Exhibited in Round Lemon’s ‘Earth’, ‘Body’ and ‘ONE’ exhibitions, Laaja’s work toys with notions of both the body and the absurd. In this interview, we briefly re-visit her work ‘I wanted to be a monument but I guess I’m just a body’, whilst discovering more about her recent practice.

Molly Hankinson’s colourful work can be seen around Glasgow, from a 16-piece street poster exhibition to part of a new mural trail in the Southside. Ana Hine spoke to the artist about murals, authentic representation, the London art scene, and, of course, her street-art approach to the pandemic.

Featured in Round Lemon’s ‘ONE’ Exhibition with her work ‘Objects Listening’, recent graduate Sarah briefly chats about value of materials, and her works shortlisted for the Sustainability Art Prize.

Shortlisted for the Round Lemon Award 2021, Heydt’s work is an accumulation of recycled media, forming works which are both provocative and political. Here Heydt talks to us about the contexts and methods which underpin her practice.

Alex Wilmoth disconnects symbols, objects and histories from their existing realities. Distorting them through his own experiences, Alex guides the viewer through bizarre and spontaneously constructed narratives that are as much a reflection of his subconscious as it is of the viewer’s attempt to decipher meaning. Exploring the absurdity of everyday life, Alex talks to us all about his creative process and multimedia practice.

Gemma Moore – multi-media artist – talks to us about her innumerable inspiration and desire to tackle ingrained sexist attitudes through her work. Her photography series, for Round Lemon’s recent exhibition ‘April Fish’, explores gendered issues and sexism in contemporary society, playing into the theme of humour through the outlandish and the uncanny.

Winner of the Round Lemon Award 2021, Sculptor Fiona Campbell uses intuitive processes with discarded materials to create assemblages of organised chaos. Campbell’s organic process of making and attentive eye for line and form captivated the Round Lemon team, and here she talks to us more about her making process and influences.

Francesca Falli is one of the artists taking part in our online exhibition ‘April Fish’. Based in L'Aquila, Italy, her multimedia collages are a fresh take on Pop Art and are centred around the idea of "Pollage" - the naïve playfulness of the Chicken. We caught up with her to talk about her creative process, her future plans, and why no-one can copy what she does.

Cemeteries and gardens are both functioning heterotopia in our towns and cities, in this journal piece I contemplate the poetic elements that are the construction blocks to these worlds within worlds.

When combined or put together words and image, I believe, form a symphony that can both fixate and unsettle. The interpretation of the poem when combined with the image lies entirely on the viewer’s perspective, but I see it as an embrace, an embrace of the self, an embrace of the negative space and ultimately an embrace of the optimism that stems from the title of the poem ‘Hope’.

In honour of Pride month, ‘Speaking Their Language’ is a poem which intertwines queerness, religion and sin.

'In Prayer' and 'In the Name of the Trees' really stem from the realization that I had not prayed in my mind, out loud, (or whatever form prayer is characteristically thought to be) in years. It came out of a conversation that sparked something in my head when someone I was romantically interested had said, "When I pray, I pray about meeting you," which I originally thought was sweet, but then became troublesome to me. I had completely forgotten about praying in, I suppose, the way I was formally taught to pray. After a few weeks of spotty contemplation I started to wonder, and then feel that most of what I do is a prayer; is in prayer. And that's how I think I prefer it.

Both of these pieces deal with the attempt at navigating the confusion and grief that sometimes accompanies change; people fading in and out, flowing in and falling back out of. 'Propaganda of Love' was the first official "piece" I had written in the wake of grief I had felt after I split up with my first serious partner. It was a realization that the grief I was feeling weighed so unbelievably heavy because I had so much love to give and it felt like, no one to give it to. I slowly realized that the love I had for my previous partner could - and can - be channeled into essentially everything I do. It couples well with 'November 1st 2021' because both deal with different forms of grief.

'Rising and Setting' was written the morning after spending the night in my hammock in the Oregon Cascades. I had started the hike in at about 10pm when the sun was setting, and by the time I found two trees that looked suitable to sleep between, it had been dark for a few hours. I woke up with the sun and it lit the mountains around me on fire, leaving me really no choice but to think and write about the otherworldly - and yet intensely of this world - experience. Following this, 'Atlas' was inspired by a friend, climber, teacher, and enigma who seems to have lived a thousand lives through his Native ancestors, experiences, and modes of being. Both pieces are open ended observations of phenomena, and I hope provoke a subjective air of wonder and rumination.

A culmination of Visual Poetry extracts: ‘Inevit-able’, ‘Berry’, ‘Precipitation’ and ‘Dionaea Musciula’.

A short story which explores the trope of personal identity, as well as the moral responsibilities we juggle with as human beings.

‘Disguise’ is a poetry sequence inspired by an exhibition with the same title I explored almost a decade ago. Also inspired by Dada sound poetry, it explores the journey of a person’s personal psychological development. Artist Jenya Stashkov created the illustrations to compliment the dada-esque poetry style.

A short poem written in a state of latent consciousness which swerves back and forth between works of art, history and literature, all the while retaining a menacing surrealist overtone.

‘Cold Call’ is a short story about a Woman attempting to escape an abusive relationship.

‘Bean Thinking’ is a short reflective elegy about coffee.

‘Dear Future Generation’ is a plead to the next generation to be better than the current one, which has had several challenges, such as racism, segregation through vaccination status and the fact that morals have been replaced with toxic traits such as vanity and unkindness.

‘Thoughts of a Mature Mind’ is a poem that highlights a woman’s struggles with endometriosis and the fact that her partner is willing to support her through this medical journey. It serves to bring awareness to the disorder.

‘Dear Poet’ is a poem that tells a story to a fellow poet about three important scenarios that may be triggering to some, but they are daily topics that need to be discussed. It covers vaccine hesitancy and abortion, male mental health and suicide and domestic abuse.

‘Cardinal Directions’ is a short series of Haibun Poetry. Part of the Japanese poetic tradition, they start with a paragraph of a story, followed by a relating haiku. The 'space' between the story and haiku signifies a deeper message of truth.

This collection of poems by Alex Clarke is an amalgamation of other people's stories, personal experiences, and observations. Using a tweaked version of the writing style commonly referred to as stream of consciousness, Alexander meshes these tales together to explore themes that form our common humanity, and lapses of social justice in our society.

This collection of poems by Alex Clarke is an amalgamation of other people's stories, personal experiences, and observations. Using a tweaked version of the writing style commonly referred to as stream of consciousness, Alexander meshes these tales together to explore themes that form our common humanity, and lapses of social justice in our society.

One thing I have come to understand through my short time of being an artist is that there can be an elitist boldness that encroaches on some people with a degree in fine art… although I’m not sure why?

Uh, not just yet. Give us some time to adjust… Okay, what do you want? Because I’m not serving today, no more fizz. Or rum. Mona’s placing an order this week so I’ll get her to top the store up. No promises you’ll see a repeat though, only if you’re lucky, do you need a quick trim round the edges?

Two short poems which embrace a more warmly feel, also reflecting my painting style.

A short story documenting the nail-biting hunt for a particular M&S pudding - The Panna Cotta.

A trilogy of poems exploring the self-narratives we create for ourselves, crime, drug use, depression and classism.

A shorter esoteric mystical poem by Guest writer Alexander Clarke.

A humurous piece of dialogue depicting the relationship between a Mouse and Owl.

A short poem exploring themes of classism.

A short piece of creative writing about a strained relationship.

A creative response to Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s painting ‘6pm Madeira’ (2011).

Art can be a powerful form of intersectional queer representation. Artists like Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning and The Carters take up space with their work, ask we ask the question: where does queer art really belong?

In this Extended Essay, I will be discussing the responsibility that queer art has to produce representation for queer viewers. I have chosen to explore this topic because lack of positive visibility of lesbians is an issue that has affected me personally all through out my coming out process, and continues to do so now. The only difference is that now, I utilise my personal practice, of predominantly painting, to address issues of representation from a fine art perspective, creating works that address areas of the lesbian experience that I feel are less publicised and discussed  for example, non-sexualised intimacy. 

The purpose of this journal is to explore how contemporary artists use textile methods and how they apply these to give meaning to their work. I have done so by researching four key artists; Freddie Robbins, Alice Kettle, Kayla Mattes and Channing Hansen, to give a scope of four different textile processes and how these behave. In these cases, I found that the artists employed materiality, metaphor and tactility in the digital world alongside their process of making as a way to give meaning.

The internet offers life at the end of a command; social networks provide the epitome of human experience. Art tackles this social landscape; becoming greater and famous among the digital; adored or hated by a digital humanity.

Social media allows us to access art, to share art and to understand contemporary visual culture; but do we truly understand what confronts us?

The influence of online platforms on real life is powerful and ’today, the influence of social media on a person's life sometimes exceeds the influence of religion or society’ (Grozny. 2018). This is not to say that religion no longer exists, and is not important in our digital lives, but simply that social media in many ways forms its own separate religion.

Social media catalyses culture, creating new cultures and social standards in its wake. It does not remain static, but scatters among the physical and among the digital. In the wake of social media, specifically Instagram, how is art relevant today? Can we understand art amongst the digital cultures of daily online life?

Carmela Vienna examines the after-images of Frida Kahlo and Lady Gaga through this Dissertation. Dissecting their symbolism, approaches and pathologies through a matrixial lens, Carmela draws similarities between the traumas of both Women’s works.

This essay aims to respond to the provocation caused by Gustave Courbet’s The Origin of the World and investigate how the raw nude is situated in ideological and cultural narratives.

I begin this at around 2.30pm on a Tuesday afternoon, with not long to work as in half an hour I have to pick up my imaginary children from school. Little Susie and Jeremy won’t be happy if I am late, and my hypothetical husband would not bring himself away from the office early to collect them (he, of course, can happily work until 5 without issue).

Hello everyone! As art of our weekly artist talks, we Round Lemon guys will publish our BA dissertations as they are a good indication of our current artistic practices. This week we are looking at Ryan Asbury’s work, exploring what inexonaivety is.

We’re looking for 3 enthusiastic voluntary board members to join the Round Lemon team to oversee and guide our critical decision making as a collective in 2022. This is a great opportunity to take on professional experience in the art world and to help the development of emerging artists, where your creative voice and opinion will be valued.

To start off the year, I just want to take a moment to reflect on our 2021 and tell you all about what to expect from Round Lemon in the year ahead. We are so proud of how far we’ve grown and developed as an organisation this year, and want to say a HUGE thank you to every artist, writer and organisation we’ve worked through 2021.

On the 25th of September, Round Lemon took over community space Moseley Hive for the day to run a ‘reimagining the high street’ collage workshop. Members of the public were invited to share their thoughts and improvements for Moseley High Street, whilst expressing their ideas through conversation, writing, collage and drawing. As a community collective, we generated a long collage on paper in addition to postcard sized ideas, of which will be displayed at our next event ‘Bee’s don’t Make Lemonade’ at the Hive.

A Round Up of opportunities with October deadlines. We’ve tried our best to include more overseas opportunities in this edition, with Call outs from America, Switzerland, Vienna, Spain and the UK.

Round Lemon is committed to providing Opportunities for Artists and Creatives.

We’ve decided that from now on we’re also going to dedicate a space here on ZEST to advertise Open Calls and Opportunities for emerging artists, writers and creatives.

We hope to provide a comprehensive selection of accessible opportunities advertised across job boards, social media and more.

We are thrilled to announce that we are officially launching our Round Lemon Art Shop on Monday!

To celebrate this amazing news, we are giving one lucky lemon the chance to WIN some of our products and more!

Congratulations CHARLIE!!

A wonderful minimalist spiked lemon 🍋

Congratulations to the GODDARD FAMILY!

A wonderful variety of animated lemons 🍋

Thank you for using your entry to raise awareness about the current issues of racism and injustice in America.

Round Lemon would like to introduce to you ZEST Hall’s very first exhibition: Protest for Progress! Brought to you in partnership with Leeds City Museum, this exhibition features work from 32 artists across the globe, as well as showcasing two collections from Leeds City Museum.

Here is our third freshest lemon - A sour Katie Lemkins lemon, very sour indeed 🍋

The second Freshest Lemon!

Triweekly Review: Venus of Hohle Fels

We have our very first #FreshestLemon!

You might have seen our social media channels wondering what actually is Round Lemon? Why is Round Lemon relevant to me? Who’s behind Round Lemon? Hopefully this post will answer all your questions.