By Manasi Pophale, Creative Director, History Speak CIC

In 2025, Wandsworth steps into the spotlight as London’s Borough of Culture—a moment of pride and promise for everyone who calls this place home. At History Speak CIC, we’re thrilled to be part of this celebration! Our project, HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS, takes place on Saturday 14th June. We are kindly supported by Wandsworth Arts Fringe. Click here to reserve your spot.

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS, draws inspiration from the extraordinary life and legacy of polymath Khadambi Asalache, whose home at 575 Wandsworth Road is a quiet masterpiece of handcrafted beauty. Asalache transformed his Victorian terraced house into a living work of art. He layered Moorish, East African, and European influences into intricate patterns of carved wood, poetry, and painted decoration. His work speaks of migration, memory, and a deep sense of place—central themes in our own practice as a community-led cultural organisation.

Three women looking up at the ceiling of 575 Wandsworth Road. — ©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

‘HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS’ brings London Borough of Culture to life in Wandsworth

The London Borough of Culture (LBoC) programme champions the idea that culture is not only for the few—it belongs to everyone. It’s about creativity in everyday places, and about making the stories of local people visible, audible, and valued.

Home is Where the Art is brings these values to life in the following ways:

Amplifying Hidden Histories and Diverse Voices

Khadambi Asalache was a Kenyan-born British civil servant, who carved out a rich, multicultural life in Wandsworth. A private man, his journey of creativity is becoming accessible to the general public since his death in 2006, after he left his house to the National Trust. It was first opened to the public in 2013.

575 Wandsworth Road holds vital lessons about home, belonging, beauty and the source of inspiration. By centring his legacy, we spotlight the creative contributions of diaspora communities and reflect on what it means to make a home in London today.

Celebrating Creativity in the Community

We invite participants—local residents, artists, students, and curious visitors—to engage in creative expression through hands-on workshops and storytelling. The project begins with a paper-cutting workshop at the R.O.S.E Community Clubroom, inspired by Asalache’s handcrafted designs. This isn’t just an art activity—it’s a way to connect with history, imagination, and the tactile joy of making something with your hands. This is also an opportunity for pre-booked ticket holders to get to know each other before they embark on their journey together.

Using Culture to Reimagine Public Space

Following the workshop, participants go on a self-guided walk that leads them to 575 Wandsworth Road. They pass by and can pause at sites of public art such as "The Barriers" sculpture by Ian Walters and "A Brief History of Time" mural by Brian Barnes. They will also walk under the "Happy Street" bridge by Yinka Ilori, see the Ramport Studios green plaque, St George’s Church and Carey Gardens Estate designed by architect Nick Wood.

This walk is more than a journey through streets—it’s an invitation to see the built environment as a canvas for cultural memory and personal reflection.

It encourages us to follow the creative process of Khadambi Asalache and bring inspiration from the outside into our homes.

Encouraging Deep Participation

Finally, the participants arrive at 575 Wandsworth Road, where a guided tour of the house is followed by a poetry workshop led by our collaborator - Hilaire. This is a moment for participants to process what they have seen and felt. With only 6 people per group, the experience is slow, intimate, and carefully held—designed to be respectful of the delicate interiors and to honour Asalache’s legacy.

This is not a passive event. It is a journey of looking, feeling, and making. Everyone who joins us becomes part of the creative process—part of a wider conversation about culture, place, and belonging.

People sitting around a table in 575 Wandsworth Road — ©History Speak CIC/ Manasi Pophale

Now More Than Ever: How Culture Helps Us Rethink Home, Identity and Belonging

In a time when London is facing rapid development, housing crises, and social polarisation, the question of what “home” means is more urgent than ever. Home is Where the Art is invites us to consider not just where we live, but how we live—and what legacies we leave behind.

As part of the London Borough of Culture celebrations, this project offers a timely, poetic, and hands-on exploration of heritage that connects the past and the present, the personal and the public. It reminds us that culture doesn’t only live in theatres and galleries—it lives in the grain of wood, the rhythm of footsteps, the layering of stories told that are re-told in neighbourhoods like Wandsworth.

🎟️ Book Your Place

Join Home is Where the Art is during Wandsworth Arts Fringe 2025 for an immersive afternoon of creativity and reflection.

🗓 Date: Saturday 14 June 2025
🕐 Time: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00
💷 Ticket Price: £5/ £3 Concession (includes all workshops, materials, and guided tour)

👉 Click here to book your place now.

A longtime resident or a first-time visitor, we invite you to join us on this journey of discovery and creativity. Walk with us. Make with us. Reflect with us.

Celebrating Khadambi Asalache at Wandsworth Arts Fringe 2025

‘HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS’ brings London Borough of Culture to life in Wandsworth