Inspired by the late Polish-British artist Feliks Topolski's fascination with drawing movement from life, Topolski Studio, the atmospheric studio in the heart of South Bank where the artist once worked, is hosting this series of 3 Saturday workshop sessions drawing professional dancers in motion, hosted by artists Alice Angus @aliceeangus and Sally McKay @mckay_sally.
Drawing Dance in Motion explores the links between drawing, movement and sound. Each day (10.30 - 4.30) features two dancers sharing their vibrant and unique practice and choreography in the studio. It is a great opportunity to draw dance much closer than on stage and experience the atmosphere, physicality and energy of dance while being so close to a live performance. A unique way for both amateur and professional artists to explore the intersections between the acts of drawing and dancing.
All skill levels are welcome at these friendly sessions. The day will be split into sessions drawing the dancers and breaks to share ideas and drawings. Sally and Alice will suggest different tasks and approaches to drawing movement but you are welcome to work on your own. They will be on hand to help anyone new to drawing get started. Bring your own materials, easles and boards are provided.
PLEASE NOTE - NO PHOTOGRAPHY OR FILMING DURING THE SESSION
Dancers
Sat 27 Sept: Harry Theadora Foster - @harrytheadorafoster
Archie White - @archie.white
Sat 25 Oct:
Thomasin Gülgeç - @thomgulgec
Roberta Pitrè - @robertavalentinamaria
Sat 29 Nov:
Bianca Mikhail - @bibis21
Kia Jewell - @kiajewell
Tickets available through Ticket Tailor here
£145 for series pass
£50 for single class
£20 for students, low income and unemployed
Each session will feature a different dancer sharing their vibrant and unique practice and choreography. We will explore the links between drawing, movement, sound and the language of dance sound and movement.
This is a great opportunity to draw dance much closer than on stage and experience the atmosphere and energy of being so close to live performance, the sounds the dancer makes moving and explore the intersections between the act of drawing and dancing.
All skill levels are welcome, bring your own materials. Easles are provided. Sally and Alice will lead different exercises and approaches for gestural drawing movement but you are welcome to work on your own.
Dancers:
Week 1: Harry Theadora Foster @harrytheadorafoster
Week 2: Thomasin Gülgeç @thomgulgec
Week 3: Leora McNamara @mcnamara.movement
Week 4: Martha Thompson @marthathompsondance
Please Purchase your ticket and find more informaiton here.
to the Studio for their talk and workshop for adults (18+) ‘The Secret of the Bush: A Story of Healing’ as part of the Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 7–16 November 2024.
‘The Secret of the Bush’ is a children’s book exploring the topic of intergenerational relationships in children’s literature by means of addressing the challenging subject of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. We’re glad to be able to host such an interesting workshop that engages with the practice of documentary artwork, one of our driving goals!
The workshop will use a multi-method approach including creative writing (poetry), illustration, and collage making inspired by natural materials (leaves, roots, soil, etc.) to express personal connections and narratives about disease, environment, and relationships.
Led by the School of Advanced Study, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.
SOLD OUT
The photographer Roland Ramanan’s work has been featured in Vice magazine among others and has won various awards including being shortlisted for the Royal Photographic Society documentary awards 2023. In 2022 he was one of the finalists in the Portrait of Britain awards. He will talk about his most recent book Dominoes which chronicles the lives of people in and around Gillett Square in Hackney. Eva Palacios is a filmmaker and animator whose project exploring the lives of children in the border towns and cities of Mexico, reveal surprising counter narratives about immigration, violence and survival. Reportage artist Louis Netter will compere the evening and talk about his own reportage work which explores, beyond the subject matter of his many urban adventures, the function and power of drawing as a conduit to experience, forging empathy and understanding about the plight of society's less visible members.
This evening promises to be both provocative and affirming of the power of the documentary form and the ecstatic, vibrant lives led in the unseen corners of urbanity.
@Rolandramanan
@eva.palacios
@lounetter
The studio has easels and all the equipment you might want, including a variety of drawing materials. Sketchbooks with reproductions of work by Feliks Topolski are also available to purchase.
Mark will explain some approaches to drawing which reflect the artistic concerns of Feliks Topolski. Individual feedback is available if desired. Mark can either help you to develop your drawing in similar directions, or he can support you as you pursue your own path. We will have a mixture of pose lengths.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are available during the break. We aim to foster a warm atmosphere for a wide variety of skill levels, and to support a vibrant, and welcoming community of artists.
You can book on Meetup & Eventbrite, but feel free to drop in.
During the tour visitors are given the unique opportunity to explore Feliks Topolski's studio and the extensive archive of drawings, prints and paintings currently stored there, gaining insight into the artist’s creative process and the inspiration behind his artworks.
Tours are led by either the artist's daughter, Teresa, or grandson, Lucien, who have extensive knowledge of the work, providing interesting anecdotes and background information. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and engage in conversations with the guides and one another.
To book your place on a tour, please email lucien@topolski.org
Prices:
General admission: £1
Concessions: £7
Children 16 and under: Free