Bow Skills Walking Tour: Exploring Architecture in east London with Kuda Mushangi
Saturday 5th April 2025 , 11:00am to 1:00pm
A walk to discover east London’s architecture and streetscapes with artist and architect Kuda Mushangi. A chance to learn more about Mushangi’s painting practice that is deeply rooted in narrative, storytelling and allegory, adding new dimensions to the fabric of the city’s urban landscapes.
Kicking things off at the Nunnery Gallery, we will look at Mushangi’s East London Art Prize shortlisted work The Question (2023) and learn about his practice as an artist and architect. We will not only delve into architectural principles focusing on community and repurposing, but also some art principles that emphasise the priority of architecture and interiors, followed by the people who inhabit these spaces.
Mushangi will be our guide, telling the hidden architectural stories at Bow Arts Trust, Bromley by Bow Centre, and Roman Road Market. Through walking on the streets of the East End, we will also learn about how a design process can empower and engage a community in east London.
Route details
Starting at the Nunnery Gallery, we will explore the critical themes of architecture: re-using and repurposing at the headquarters and office space of Bow Arts Trust, a project by Delvendahl Martin Architects as part of a wider development strategy for Bow Arts to reclaim underused spaces for public and artistic use.
We will then make our way to the Bromley by Bow Centre, an integrated health and community hub, and its surrounding spaces that accompany the original church and bell tower, highlighting the architect’s responsibility on the wider community and society. The site also showcases a tactile design approach which Kuda implements and considers throughout his paintings.
Our next stop will be the Roman Road Market, which demonstrates how the spaces between buildings are equally important for fostering community and societal connections.
We will finish up at the Nunnery Café which gives you the chance to enjoy a coffee or tea and a selection of locally-made cakes, pastries, toasties, soups and other delicious treats after your walk. The Nunnery Gallery will also stay open for you to take your time to look at the 12 incredible artworks in the East London Art Prize: Shortlist Exhibition 2025.
In this tour, you will:
- Learn about Kuda Mushangi’s practice as an artist straddling both disciplines: painting and architechture.
- Be inspired by a fresh perspective on architecture and its relationship with various artistic practices.
- Explore ways to design a space that can empower and engage a community through architectural principles.
- Connect with other artists and practitioners with similar areas of interest.
This walk is open to anyone to attend but will particularly resonate with artists who have a profound interest in architecture. No architectural background is required – come along and find out!
Concession rate applies to students, over 65s, under 18s, Bow Arts artists, National Art Pass members, and key workers.
More about Kuda Mushangi
Mushangi, born in 1995, is an artist and architect based in London. Mushangi studied architecture at the Liverpool School of Architecture and earned his Master of Architecture degree in 2020. He gained recognition as a young emerging artist through an open-call competition held by Tate Modern and Tate Collective in 2020, and his work was featured on a billboard in Brixton, London. In 2021, he was awarded the Holy Arts Art Gallery Prize and was featured in Artist Talk Magazine. In 2022, he became a finalist for The Ingram Prize, the leading contemporary art collection in the UK. In 2024 Mushangi’s artwork was exhibited at the London Design Festival. Mushangi is eager to continue pushing and sharing his artwork within the broader art community.
About Bow Skills
Bow Arts seeks to support creative professionals at all stages of their careers. In 2015 Bow Arts launched Bow Skills in response to an artist survey which showed over 90% of practicing artists find it useful to receive further support outside formal education.
Bow Skills is a dynamic and relevant programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which is informed by an artist steering group and open to all creative practitioners across London. The programme of talks, panel discussions, new skills labs and peer crits is open to all, with concession rates available to students, over 65s, under 18s, Bow Arts artists and key workers.
Access information
The Nunnery Gallery and Café have step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system. Accessible parking is not available on-site.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)
Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a table near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!
Transport Information
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away. Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area. Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.
Address: Nunnery Gallery, 181 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ
Opening hours: Tues-Sun, 10am to 4pm
Read more about the East London Art Prize
East London Art Prize
The East London Art Prize celebrates and promotes the incredible talent and diversity of art made in the cultural hive of east London.
