VESSEL, a contemporary art exhibition illuminating the history of The Bottle Factory, opened at the start of August – kicking off a new programme of activations in the dedicated events space at our recently-restored Victorian warehouse, tucked away behind the Old Kent Road.

Curated by local nomadic art platform OHSH Projects and inspired by the building’s history as home to J. Mills & Sons’ lemonade, ginger beer and sparkling water factory,  the exhibition showcases the myriad ways in which artists depict vessels, through the expanded field of sculpture, from glass and ceramic to installation.

The works of 22 artists are on show, exploring the vessel as a symbol of society, as a container of grief, or pain, as a metaphor for the fragility of the human condition, and as a representation of diversity.

Formerly neglected and tucked away off the Old Kent Road, we have brought The Bottle Factory back to life as home to a growing community of makers, creatives and urban industry, protecting space for manufacture and creativity in an area rich with industrial heritage.

The exhibition runs through to 22 September, with a series of special free events programmed as part of the London Design Design Festival.