Brady Arts And Community Centre hosts solo exhibition of works by Russian artist seeking to reflect atmosphere and structure of Docklands
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The Brady Arts And Community Centre in Whitechapel is hosting a solo exhibition exploring the “layered identity of Canary Wharf and Docklands.
A series of works, collectively titled Memory Of A New City, by Russian-born artist Olga Regina will be on show at the east London venue until April 25.
“As a child I painted furniture and experimented with photography and, aged 10 I started to feel driven to become an artist,” said Olga, who has lived in London since 2023.
“I changed my location to Canary Wharf and, walking around, I realised there’s just something different about this area.
“The combination of the high buildings and the water is very inspiring and I also wanted to learn about the history of the area so I visited London Museum Docklands on West India Quay.”
reality and fantasy
Using a camera and an iPad, Olga blends reality and fantasy in an attempt to reflect the world around her – conceiving the images she wants to make before heading out onto the streets.
She said she uses her camera as a starting point before indulging in “digital intervention” to create work that sits somewhere between documentation and imagination.
She said: “Before I take a photo, I imagine what will be in it and then I completely change it.
“The images are like a canvas for me. I add my feelings.
“Some of the pieces include characters from childhood.
“I like birds a lot too – they were here before everything else was built in this place.
“For me it’s a very unusual area unlike any other.
“Here you have a combination of locals, the history and the landscapes – the water and the trees. I find a lot of inspiration in them.”
Olga said she hoped her works would give people pause in a part of London known for its hectic pace.
“I hope they notice things they don’t normally see,” she said. “We rush in the big cities, so we don’t always see the architecture or the people who live here.
“I want people to feel happiness when looking at my artworks and then to share it. I’m interested in how the city feels, not just how it looks.
“Canary Wharf is often seen as structured and controlled, but when you spend time there, you notice something softer — a human rhythm that exists alongside the financial one.”
key details: Olga Regina
Memory Of A New City by Olga Regina is set to be on display at the Brady Arts And Community Centre until April 25, 2026, and is available to view for free on weekdays and Saturdays.
All artworks are for sale.
Find out more about the artist here
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