Desi Pubs at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia

The Red Lion pub sign - illustration by Hardeep Pandhal, sign painting by Andrew Grundon, Concepts by New Art Exchange; Skinder Hundal & Sooree Pillay; and Red Cow Landlord, Beera Mahli.

We are delighted to announce that Creative Black Country’s Desi Pubs project is featured in the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

Used as part of the British Pavilion's 'The Garden of Privatised Delights’, The Red Lion Desi Pub sign, commissioned by Creative Black Country, has made its way to Venice after a request by design collective, The Decorators who have produced one of the Pavilion’s immersive rooms; Publicani.

This year’s Pavilion theme aims to highlight unrealised opportunities in private spaces. Each room within the British Pavilion will present a new model for the future of public space through an immersive installation, designed to engage us in the debate and ask us how we can use spaces differently.

One such question is:  Could the pub be more than a place for drinking and become a versatile centre for civic action? which has been tackled by The Decorators.

Over a quarter of Britain's pubs have closed in the last twenty years so The Decorators consider how pubs can adapt to survive and how we can help save them.

“When you step in to Publicani the familiar elements of the pub are still there; the carpet, the decor and the karaoke tell a hidden story of reuse and reinvention. The bar is designed to be different heights which brings people of all ages and walks of life together. A post box and plug sockets are embedded in to it allowing it to become a real community hub.” Manijeh Verghese, co-curator of the British Pavilion.

Parminder Dosanjh, Creative Director at Creative Black Country, said: “We are thrilled that The Decorators have used the Desi Pubs of the Black Country as inspiration for Publicani at the British Pavilion. The Desi Pub story is the perfect example of how declining pubs have been reinvented by diaspora communities to turn the traditional British Pub into thriving community spaces.”

Desi Pubs is an extraordinary story about migration, survival, love and food. For over 40 years, the Black Country has been quietly incubating a gastro revolution, the ‘Desi pub’. 

It’s an East meets West story, where the classic English pub with its ales, darts and dominos meets Punjabi food and Bhangra. Landlords Beera, Jinder, Jeet, Dal, Slack and Amrik, have opened their pub doors to six artists sharing their personal life stories and experiences over a pint. 

Image by Stuart Whipps taken for the Desi Pubs publication

The pubs landlords and staff helped shape bespoke creations which captured the heart and soul of each venue and their punters. Portraits, stained glass windows, photography, mosaics, and handcrafted pub signs were produced for permanent display in each pub. The collection is part of an ongoing body of work produced by Creative Black Country that includes an archive, broadcasts and a publication. 

Parminder Dosanjh, Creative Director at Creative Black Country, comments: “The project is about telling this extraordinary story in the sincerest way and paying homage to the people at the heart of it. The story has many layers and includes tales of migration, survival, love, and the remarkable meeting point of the English Pub and once Indian migrant.” 

The Red Lion pub sign credits:

Pub Sign illustration by Hardeep Pandhal

Pub sign painting by Andrew Grundon

Concepts by New Art Exchange; Skinder Hundal & Sooree Pillay; and Red Cow Landlord, Beera Mahli.

Commissioned by Creative Black Country for the Desi Pubs project. Find out more here.