dialogue
Gigi Surel | Gallerist
March 2025
7 min read
We step into the creative world of Gigi Surel, the visionary behind Teaspoon Projects.
February marked a major milestone with the launch of Teaspoon Projects’ inaugural show, captivating the art world with its collaborative and contemporary approach. Committed to making exhibition spaces more dynamic, Teaspoon Projects champions diverse artistic voices through ephemeral pop-ups and multifaceted programming. Reflecting on its debut, Gigi shares how Teaspoon Projects fosters community and deeper engagement with art. With exciting exhibitions and groundbreaking collaborations on the horizon.
Gigi stays actively engaged, and her newly announced role as Project Partner at Good Eye Projects highlights her ongoing commitment to emerging artists. Known for its sharp curatorial approach, Good Eye Projects exhibits talent through exhibitions, collaborations, and mentorship, making it an important platform in the contemporary art landscape.
Gigi’s next exhibition, Açık Büfe (Open Buffet), co-curated by Teaspoon Projects and Dil Collective, takes place on Sunday, 16 March, from 3–5 PM at 8 Vine Yard, SE1 1QL. This immersive gathering, facilitated by Ayshe-Mira Yashin and Pedro Reséndez, invites audiences to explore connections between language, identity, and belonging through interactive experiences.
Hi Gigi! February was all about Teaspoon Projects, the art world stepped back and witnessed your incredible inaugural show. For those who haven’t heard of Teaspoon Projects, how would you describe your newly created initiative?
“Thank you for your kind words! The response has been incredibly rewarding, it’s been the best month of my life, truly! Teaspoon Projects is a dynamic curatorial initiative centred on collaboration, designed to make exhibition spaces more welcoming and engaging. Rooted in contemporary storytelling, it embraces the enigmatic and the elliptical, creating spaces where diverse artistic voices converge. While it’s not registered as a nonprofit yet, it operates without a profit-driven model.
Through ephemeral pop-ups and multifaceted programming, we explore the subtle threads that shape our shared and individual experiences, inviting audiences to engage deeply with evolving narratives.”
You certainly keep busy! Alongside leading Teaspoon Projects, you’ve recently been announced as a Project Partner for Good Eye Projects. Tell us more about this role.
“This is a newly created role at Good Eye Projects, led by the brilliant artist Anna Woodward. For those unfamiliar, Good Eye Projects is a community-focused artist residency program founded in 2022. It provides emerging and early-career artists with exposure to the art ecosystem and free studio spaces.
My role brings additional support from an institutional patron and collector perspective, though the specifics vary by project. For example, I recently led a curator’s tour at Teaspoon Projects for the current residents, and earlier, I assisted with the installation of their Saatchi Gallery exhibition. At its core, this role is about being present, offering insight, practical support, and amplifying the incredible work being done.”
One show in, and you’ve already showcased an impressive range of practices, more than ten artists in a single exhibition. Why was it important for you to introduce Teaspoon Projects to the public in this way?
“Teaspoon Projects takes its name from an essay by Georges Perec about the significance of the mundane and the everyday, how we shouldn’t take anything for granted and should recognise the importance of what often goes unnoticed.
Our first exhibition, A thousand-pointed star, explored the elusive nature of selfhood, how identity is constantly shifting and multifaceted. So, the more voices, the better, both in terms of artistic mediums and personal perspectives. Multiplicity was key to reflecting this concept. All 12 artists worked with different materials and mediums, and seeing it all come together after months of planning was spectacular. This group will always hold a special place in my heart for trusting a brand-new initiative, many even created new works specifically for the show, which was incredibly humbling.”
Art is often seen as a reflection of society. How do you hope Teaspoon Projects will shape social or cultural narratives?
“Everyone talks about building a community, but I’ve already seen it happening, after just one week, visitors were forming friendships and planning future collaborations. Teaspoon Projects aims to inject more life into how art is exhibited, encouraging the public, not just art-world insiders, to reconnect with their creative and empathetic sides through meaningful time spent with artworks and artists. Creating that sense of belonging, where visitors feel not just welcome but deeply connected, is one of Teaspoon’s most important goals.
Many galleries in London are doing incredible work, and Teaspoon Projects exists as an ally, expanding and enriching the conversation rather than competing with them. I think the art world is becoming more collaborative than ever, coming together in this challenging environment to support artists in the best way possible. If we work together, we can bake a huge cake rather than fight for slices, and I don’t mean this financially, but in terms of visibility, taking up space, and fostering creative exchange. I hope Teaspoon Projects will boost this growing spirit of collaboration, creating a space where artists, curators, writers, and audiences can engage in meaningful dialogue. ”
If you had unlimited resources, what would be your dream project/show and location? And why?
“It would have to be a travelling exhibition/residency, beginning with a group exhibition in London, followed by a residency in remote regions, immersing the same artists in unfamiliar cultures and inspiring new works in response. After about six months, the residency would culminate in a second exhibition back in London, capturing how different landscapes, languages, and cuisines shape artistic expression. This ties back to the theme of our first exhibition, how understanding others and the world around us helps us better understand ourselves.”
You’ve already created something quite impactful. What’s next for Teaspoon Projects? What’s brewing behind the scenes?
“We’re aiming for at least three exhibitions a year, with programming in between, almost like ephemeral, in-between exhibitions, to keep the community engaged and growing...
On March 16th, we’re bringing an exciting collaboration to 8 Vine Yard Residency, founded by Josephine Bailey, in partnership with Dil Collective. Açık Büfe (Open Buffet) will be a holistic workshop led by artists Pedro Resendez and Ayshe-Mira Yashin, blending visual and spoken language with food.
I’m also working with Mariana Lemos on a very exciting duo show in May, featuring current Royal Academy students Maya Gurung-Russell Campbell and Dwayne Coleman. It will run for two weeks and take a different approach to programming than our first exhibition. I can’t wait for you to see it!”
Image credits:
1. Image by Natalie Chia.
2. Image by Natalie Chia.
3. Image by Natalie Chia.
4. Image by Natalie Chia.
5. Image by Natalie Chia.
6. Image by Rene Lazovy.
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