Vetor Recommends: Club Are

Inspired by the hedonistic energy of 2000s raves and the legacy of late-90s outdoor and underground parties, Club Are actively builds welcoming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community

Text by Efe Çilek

Vetor Magazine is thrilled to feature Club Are, a project that provides a transformative experience where art, sound, and self come together, creating a journey that transcends the ordinary. What began as co-curator Mika Kailes' birthday party in an East London art studio has grown into one of the city's most unique intersections of club culture, visual arts, and fashion. Together with co-director Abdula Jama, Kailes has crafted an experimental platform where installations, performances, and progressive electronic sounds converge in a space that celebrates individuality and inclusivity. Each edition reimagines the club, shifting from gallery to runway, from sanctuary to protest, always returning as a playground for self-expression.

Photography by Dani D'Ingeo

On September 20, Club Are once again redefines the dancefloor at Hackney Bridge. Visual artist Arthur Poujois will transform the venue with a mirrored installation of sculptural forms, shifting how bodies move and perceive one another. Into this charged environment steps performance artist Yen-Ching Lin, whose solo piece — created in collaboration with Arthur Poujois and the Club Are team — threads presence and gesture directly into the architecture of the night.

The soundtrack will flow across two rooms: the main floor features Riva b2b Oliver Scala, S3BA, Tuxe and a secret, unannounced guest, while Room 2 is curated by Mika Kailes alongside another very special guest. Expect a pulsating wave of progressive, high-energy house on Funktion-One, curated with the same spirit of inclusivity and experimentation that defines the project. Envision a crowd adorned in bold statements and aspirations, creating a space for queer joy and the politics of visibility.

For us, Club Are is a powerful reminder: the dancefloor is still one of the rare places where art and community can rewrite reality in real time. It's an inspiring and hopeful experience that you won't want to miss.

Photos by Michele Baron,Dani D'Ingeo, Markus Kailes & Sasha Borissova