A new collaborative East End arts festival, Backyard Biennial, is underway in London. As part of the festival, the Whitechapel Gallery is hosting a group exhibition titled 'East of the Aldgate Pump'.
One of the featured artworks, conceived two years ago, is based on a memory of Brick Lane's Bengali sweet shops and a father's favourite childhood snack. The Bengali social enterprise Oitij-jo Kitchen contributes to this work daily by preparing and bringing the specific mixture of snacks into the gallery.
The festival and its projects, like Backyard Biennial, aim to reach individuals who may feel excluded by art galleries, fostering a sense of belonging in art spaces.