It’s a real treat to introduce you to our boy Farouk, better known to most as Farouk858. A true multidisciplinary soul, Farouk’s life journey has taken him from the energy of Lagos to the streets of Dublin, and finally here to London where he’s currently busy being an artist, designer, and builder all at once.
He’s the brains and the hands behind 858 Art Club, a project that is quickly becoming a cornerstone for the creative community. Farouk has been a friend of S.P.A. STUDIOS for a minute now (he was actually the first ever model we used), and his approach to building things, whether that’s a physical space or a vibe, is exactly what the Curators Club is about.
Get to know the man behind the club below.
Tell us about the most-exciting recent project you have worked on - either personally or professionally…
It’s got to be building the 858 Art Club. It’s more than just a project; it’s about creating a space that actually functions for us. I’m deep in the process of scaling that vision right now, turning ideas into a physical reality that people can actually step into and feel.
Please tell us which piece from the S.P.A. STUDIOS collection you’re wearing and what you have styled it with.
I'm donning the full Curators Club collection here. I've got the black Curators Club t-shirt and black Curators Club cap, paired with a pair of my own-designed 858 jeans.
TRACK OR ALBUM: what's your favourite atm and why?
Annahstasia - Stress Test
This track makes me feel almost every emotion possible
RESTAURANT: what's your favourite where you’re living atm and why?
BabSang. No contest. If you want Korean food that is consistently banging every single time, this is the spot. It never misses.
MUSEUM / GALLERY: what's your favourite where you're living atm and why?
In all honesty? My E. London home and atelier. It’s where the rawest ideas start. There’s something about your own space that acts as the best gallery for the work in progress. You can see one of my pieces in the background of the photo above.
CLUB / NIGHTLIFE: what's your favourite spot where you're living atm and why?
858 Art Club obviously. I might be biased, but it’s the only club I know that always feels full of life and high energy without that typical, overwhelming "nightclub" drain. It’s a different kind of frequency. To be clear, we have open decks every week so there is actually music.
FILM: what’s the best film you’ve watched recently and why?
Marty Supreme. It’s one of those rare films that actually makes you sit back and question what winning even means. It stayed with me long after the credits rolled.
TV: what’s the best series you’ve watched recently and why?
Industry. I’m not even going to explain this one, just watch it and you’ll feel exactly why.
Anything else you want to add?
858 is on an inextinguishable path. Are you?
