A major new art exhibition titled HARDCORE/LOVE opens at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon, showcasing seminal video works by acclaimed artists Arthur Jafa and Mark Leckey. The exhibition combines Jafa's 'Love is the Message, The Message is Death' (2016) and Leckey's 'Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore' (1999), and is led by artist-run studio programme Conditions in partnership with gallerist Gavin Brown. It will run until August 10, 2025.
The exhibition matters because it brings high-quality contemporary art to a public shopping centre, breaking down barriers between the art world and everyday life while revitalising Croydon's local art scene. By featuring works that explore British rave culture and the African-American experience, it engages residents, local artists, and mall-goers, supports emerging creatives through the Conditions programme, and offers free community events, turning a familiar public space into a vibrant cultural hub.