
Londons Mothership Group, the capitals most forward thinking bar group, have joined forces with the artist management platform Central Illustration Agency and Pirates to create Clerkenwells, and perhaps Londons, very first Pop-Up-Bar-as-Art-Installation project. To be held in a well-known building in the heart of Clerkenwell for three months between May and August, Pop-Up Pirates will be part late-night bar, part art-installation and all totally unique.
Mothership Group has gained an unparalleled reputation for pushing boundaries combining art and music in Londons nooks and crannies and providing opportunities to up-and-coming, aspiring artists with whom they work. Having created The Queen of Hoxton and The Book Club in the last year in this vein, this time, they are taking things a stage further with a pioneering collaboration with two of Londons most happening creative teams.
In this instance, Pirates have taken complete artistic control of the old building and intend to shape the project around Clerkenwells printing history - the site itself was an old factory building specialising in silver lithography.
The idea is all about type, be it modern and bright or traditional and sophisticated. Everywhere you look will be covered in words and letters of all sorts of shapes and sizes, some painted, some in relief and some full on 3D. And thats just for starters, the toilets will be transformed into an interactive blackboard, free standing cut perspex letters will grow out of walls and upbeat catch- phrases will cover every inch of the bar. There will be mock printing presses spewing out reams of paper. Words will shout out from every surface, all making Pop Up Pirates a walk in wardrobe of letterforms.
With Pop Up Pirates and the CIA, Mothership Group is once again displaying the collaborative outlook and verve that has given all its projects the story and atmosphere that have proved so successful. And this time, they may be pushing the boundaries further than ever.
Oh, and plus the site’s got a 4am licence so expect some full on parties programmed by The Mothership Group, Pirates and SessioNoisseS (ATG/DTA) .
Opens early May, watch this space!











