Beauty Salon

Ruben Talberg, current exhibition

London is bursting with cutting edge galleries, established art spaces and world reknowned institutions. So how does a new gallery stand out from the rest? By reflecting the new climate : both cultural and environmental. Loma-Ann Bonner met Samir Cedric, the man behind the SaLon Gallery, who hopes to take his ‘concept’ of a multi-disciplined, green gallery across London and worldwide.

With it’s low lighting, dark wooden furniture and cool bar the SaLon gallery on London’s buzzy Westbourne Grove looks like a swanky restaurant.
Not until you step inside do you notice the huge and impressive paintings on its walls.
That, says owner Samir Cedric, is exactly the point.
“ We want to find an unconventional way to promote contemporary and affordableck  art and engage new entrants, both artists and collectors.”
In order to do this, the SaLon doesn’t have white walls , bright lights and high ceilings.
Instead, the walls are red, chandeliers hang from the ceilings and there’s a kitchen and bar.
It’s all reminiscent of 18th Century Parisian Salons – where painters, poets and philosophers would gather for creative chit chat and ‘networking’ – and that’s exactly where Samir has taken his inspiration.
 “These days it’s all about innovation and multi functionality,” he explains.
“It’s no longer good enough if you’re extremely good in one discipline. Many artists are great musicians, for example.
That’s why our concept is successful: we offer something more than just white walls, sell, next.
Ours is a place where an artist could exhibit paintings and perform regularly.”
The SaLon – the name also derives from Samir’s home city Sarajevo and London -  is certainly a centre for all things creative.
There’s a small stage for performers, and Samir  - who opened the gallery a year ago - intends to put on poetry readings, stand up comedy nights and new shows.
And as well as being part of the changing cultural zeitgeist, Samir – who is actually a mathematician but believes that art and science are very close -  has his finger on the pulse of social change too.
In February he put on the show Notting Hill 2050, looking at how the area would look if global warming continues.
And now he’s going one step further and is making the gallery ‘green.’
“I’m getting a consultant in to make the gallery eco-friendly,” he says.
That’s very ambitious.
“Of course, we will have to phase it in. But eventually we’ll only use self sustainable energy, recycle everything properly and hopefully, the pieces themselves will be eco-friendly. It’s an educational process for everyone.”
And there are more SaLons opening over the next two years, the first one being on Upper Street in Islington, then Shoreditch, Clapham and Chiswick and Fulham.
“We hesitated over Shoreditch as there’s so much happening there already, but in the other areas there’s a market but not really an art scene.”
So soon you'll be able to pick up a contemporary painting or pop to a poetry reading or performance all over London.
And the gallery will be as green as the leafy streets.


The SaLon Gallery, 82 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RT.

Check out our competition. The Salon Gallery are giving away two tickets for a charity art auction , that takes place on Thursday 14th June.

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