ActionSpace Brent: Something Shared

Something Shared was a group exhibition at Willesden Gallery by ActionSpace artists from our Brent studio, responding to the history and contemporary culture of Ealing Road, Brent. Participating artists included Abubakar Akram, Ajanthan Jeevan, Benjamin Allen, Daniel Seneviratne, Iffah Amaioua, Jorell Bonnick, and Mohammed Imran Khan.

The exhibition brought together sculptural paintings, drawings, works on paper, and mixed-media pieces that blended contemporary perspectives with historical material relating to Ealing Road. Some artists incorporated objects from local shops and visual elements of the road as it exists today, while others drew inspiration from archival material provided by Brent Museum and Archives.

Explore the Exhibition

Although Something Shared has now closed, you can still explore the exhibition through our digital archive:

Browse the slideshow below to revisit the works and moments from the show.

Abubakar Akram. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Jorell Bonnick. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Daniel Seneviratne. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Mohammed Imran Khan. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Ben Allen. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Iffah Amaioua. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Ajanthan Jeevan. Image courtesy of the Artist and ActionSpace.

Community Engagement and Professional Development

Alongside the core group of studio artists, the exhibition was part of a wider community project supported by the Big Lottery and Brent Mencap. This initiative introduced a new group of learning-disabled adults to studio practice. They participated in a specially adapted community-led tour of Ealing Road with Shared City CIC, developed with ActionSpace’s advice to ensure accessibility.

The project also provided paid professional development opportunities for Brent studio artists Daniel Seneviratne and Iffah Amaioua, who co-led workshops for the visiting participants.

Collaborative Curation

Something Shared was presented in partnership with Curate Brent, which supports emerging curators from Brent’s creative community. Curate Brent curators Isher Dhiman, Mishael Downer and Yasmin Nicholas worked closely with ActionSpace Artist Facilitator, Emily Rees-Haynes, and the artists to plan the exhibition installation, ensuring the artists’ voices and interests were central to the presentation of their work.

“Working with the ActionSpace artists on Something Shared has been one of the most meaningful curatorial experiences I’ve had. This exhibition wasn’t just about showcasing work, it was about creating space for genuine collaboration, care, and creativity. The artists’ practices challenged conventional ideas of curation and opened up new ways of thinking about accessibility, authorship, and inclusion. It was a privilege to celebrate their work with families and communities in Brent, and to be part of something that truly reflected the spirit of shared making and connection.”

– Isher Dhiman, Lead Curator, Curate Brent

Public Programme

During the exhibition The Inclusion Project and Brent Mencap joined workshops led by ActionSpace artist Daniel Seneviratne and Artist Facilitator Emily Rees-Haynes, deepening engagement with the themes and practices behind the works on display.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who visited, participated, or supported Something Shared. We hope you enjoy exploring the exhibition again through the digital archive above.

Lead Image: Ajanthan Jeevan, Untitled, 2025, mixed media. Image courtesy of the artist and ActionSpace.

Exhibition and workshop documentation by Matt Mead.