What does the word ‘London’ evoke for you?
Home and friendship – the city we always return to, no matter which vile new Conservative government is stinking it up.
Your first memory of London?
Our shared London memories began when we fell in love, mostly kissing in the video viewing room in the library at Goldsmiths.
Where do you feel most at home?
Curled up in bed with artist Gaby Sahhar, or Jala Wahid and her partner Stephen, having a gossip, the heating on dangerously high, cups of tea on tap. At Arcadia Missa, with our London gallerist Rózsa Farkas, where we find an endless supply of love and support. Spending time with Rosie’s mum, eating soup, and having conversations that last ten hours.
What is the mark of a true Londoner?
Someone who can spend hours bitching about it but would never live anywhere else.
Which famous figure best embodies London?
Sam Selvon, author of our favorite book about London, The Lonely Londoners [1956]. We strongly advise you to stop what you are doing and read it instead.
Your favorite place for breakfast?
Crossroads Café in Peckham. Even though we left the area many years ago, we remain loyal to the best caff in London.
Where are the best boutiques?
I don’t know if you would call it a boutique, but Aladdin’s Cave in Lewisham, for rare and completely unusable objects.
Guests at your dream dinner party in London?
Rene and Maggie Matić: They make our life extraordinary, and we wish we could have dinner with them every night.
Where do you go out in London?
Soho, always and forever, or wherever Rózsa Farkas tells us to go, because she throws the best parties in town.
Which artwork best represents London?
The series of ink paintings titled ‘Inner City Pressure’ by Gaby Sahhar: The works are astonishing.
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever heard or seen on the streets of London?
An unbridled horse galloping down the high street in Clapton during rush hour, chased by a battalion of police cars. We hope she got away.
What can you only do in London?
Spend four hours on public transport in one day and not blink an eye.
What do you miss the most about London when you are away?
Our friends, the trees and parks, our studio in Woolwich, the river, its vastness, and its architectural diversity.
Your best advice for those just visiting?
Take the Uber Boat from Tate Britain to Woolwich Arsenal, sit on the viewing platform and enjoy an overpriced beer.
Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings are represented by Arcadia Missa, London.
Arcadia Missa will participate in the Positions sector at Art Basel Miami Beach 2022.
‘Art Now: Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings’ is at Tate Britain, London, until May 7, 2023.
Captions for full-bleed images: 1. Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings, The Disinherited, 2022 (detail). 2. Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings, Common Subjects, 2022 (detail). 3. Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings, The Disinherited, 2022 (detail). All photos by Josef Konczak. Courtesy of the artists, Tate, and Arcadia Missa, London. Copyright Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings.
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