The BitterSweet Review presents an evening of readings, poetry and conversations for the launch of its inaugural issue. With mandisa apena, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (video), Emma Gomis, Tarek Lakhrissi and Gray Wielebinski. Hosted by editors Kole Fulmine, Benoît Loiseau and Louis Shankar, the event spans readings, conversations and performance.

Responding to the theme of physicality, London-based artist mandisa apena performs their poems; Catalan-American writer Emma Gomis goes through her inventory of body casts; Paris-based artist and poet Tarek Lakhrissi reads from his latest book LE SANG!/BLOOD! (Lafayette Anticipations, 2022); Meanwhile, from her home in Seattle, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore reads from her forthcoming book Touching the Art (Soft Skull Press, 2023) and, in a mock confessional with BitterSweet editor Benoît Loiseau, London artist Gray Wielebinski tells all.

The BitterSweet Review is a queer editorial collective and biannual literary magazine based in London. Aside from online and print publications, it produces original artist-limited editions and organises writing workshops. In addition to the aforementioned artists and writers, Issue 01 features contributions from Jamiu Agboke, Diamond Stingily, Chantal T. Spitz, D Mortimer, Adrian Bridget, Donald W. Woods, Roberto Rodriguez-Estrada, Spyros Rennt, Grace Lavery, Vicky Spratt and more. 

Copies are available at the ICA Bookshop

Learn more about The BitterSweet Review here and on socials

This two-hour event hosts several readings of different lengths and audiences are welcome to come and go from the space as necessary.

There is a 15-minute break one hour into the event. This event is seated on hardback chairs and has low lighting states throughout.