Two Art Panels. Creative Showcases. An Evening of Art, Dialogue & Community.
On 2 August 2025, the first edition of Common Threads brought together 12 emerging Asian artists in London for a powerful evening of conversation, creativity and connection.
Common Threads is an ongoing panel series spotlighting emerging Asian creatives and fostering meaningful conversations around identity, heritage and contemporary practice. Curated and organised by AV Communications and Lynda Lorraine, the series exists to build community, encourage dialogue and create space for underrepresented voices within London’s creative landscape.
This inaugural panel series created an open and intentional space for artists and audiences alike to reflect on how culture and identity shape creative practice.
Held at Damsel Collective in Shoreditch, East London, the evening blended thoughtful dialogue with creative showcases. Celebrating storytelling across painting, illustration, media, design, fashion and music. Together the panels fostered vulnerability, reflection and collective empowerment.
What Guests Experienced – Inspiring panel discussions, an intimate multi-disciplinary artist showcase, honest conversations on identity, heritage and belonging, music by DJs Deejay Nye & Vince Lam of Half East Records.
Panel 1: Echoes of Home – Creativity through Nostalgia
‘An exploration of memory, migration and the emotional landscapes that shape artistic expression.’
Featuring Chelsea Laylo (Art Director & Designer, Philippines), Yujinia Wang (Painter & Illustrator, Taiwan), Kei Putri (Textile Designer of Silk & Line, Indonesia), Saumya Shukla (Visual Artist & Designer, India), Rina (Fashion Designer & Analogue Photographer, Japan), Sin-U Lam (Abstract Painter, Macau)
Panel 2: Rooted in Identity – Culture in a Creative Landscape
‘A discussion on navigating heritage, representation and authorship within contemporary creative industries.’
Featuring Jen Wong (Graphic Designer, Hong Kong), Junghyun ‘Zoey’ Kim & Sami Malla of MMII (South Korea & Nepal), Deejay Nye & Vince Lam of Half East Records (Philippines & Hong Kong) and Ainara Basco (London-based Artist of Filipino heritage)
Creative Production – Lynda Lorraine, PR & Communications – Angel Vianne of AV Communications, Venue – Damsel Collective, London E2, Photography – Ryan Victor, Loris Chan, Graphic Design – Kathleen Bernadez, Video Direction – Jed Inconsistencies, PR & Events Partner – Nicole Be
