Today we find ourselves in the highly acclaimed yet little known Covi-Mora and Greengrassi galleries,  located incongruously in a kind of alley behind the towers of the Hurley Estate. Commercial galleries can sometimes seem a daunting to normal folk such as us, but rest assured these galleries not only want you to visit but require it to stay afloat. And in spite of the scowl of staff scrolling through their DM’s at reception, they welcome the diversion that your mere presence provides. 

Downstairs at Covi-Mora is a collection of ceramics by artist Sam Bakewell who we’ve seen here before. These are process driven works where you can see how he’s manipulated the clay with fingers and other implements. And in his own words, they ‘hone in on a psychosexual love affair’. OK. The muted colour palette is also very pleasing.  And given that ceramics require a very hot oven, Mr. Bakewell PLEASE tell us your surname is made up.

Upstairs at Greengrassi we encounter an installation of photos and videos by Moyra Davey in which she connects the lives of four artists of Ukrainian descent. The stories are told from Riverside Park in Manhattan, and the arresting photos on the walls we were unable to ascertain if they are current or archival, which is perhaps the point. The galleries also operate a pop up gallery called ‘NEITHER’ at 2 Wincott Parade in Kennington Road. It’s currently showing works by artist Colin Pearson. Access to this site is by arrangement but as it’s in a shop front you can just see the paintings on your way home from the pub. All shows are on until 30 May.

Covi-Mora and Greengassi galleries are located at 1A Kempsford Road SE11 4NU. The entrance looks not unlike the doors to a prison or a sex dungeon (not that we’d know), but once buzzed through by the scowling staff it’s a very interesting visit. And if you’re ever made to feel unwelcome in a gallery, invoke the immortal words of Edwina Monsoon from Absolutely Fabulous – ‘You only work in a shop you know. You can drop the attitude’.