Walking Abstractions: A walking drawing workshop and exhibition in Lapland.

In his analysis of the movement of animals, Aristotle offered a remarkable (thought) experiment: “… if a man were to walk on the ground alongside a wall [with a reed dipped in ink attached to his head], the line traced [by the reed] would not be straight but zigzag, because it goes lower when he bends and higher when he stands upright and raises himself.” (Aristotle, Progression of Animals, 709a 5-9.) This passage has several translations, given some corrupt parts of the original text. But while some suggest that the zigzag or wavy line is created by an instrument attached to the body, others propose a rather imaginary line created by the projection of the walker’s shadow. In any case, Aristotle’s analysis of motion, particularly this passage, is essential because it suggests that the walking body is a producer of forms both in and from itself, i.e., forms that exist only in the presence of the body and forms that endure in its absence either in the mind of the viewer or literally imprinted on a surface.

We warmly welcome participants to a two-day workshop in which we will explore together the extraordinary possibilities that our walking bodies have for the creation of drawings, in a unique process of blind drawing without being blindfolded developed by Rovaniemi-based artist Kalle Lampela. In one of his works, Lampela took one-hour walks in his studio carrying a drawing box with a felt-tip pen hanging over a sheet of paper (16.5 x 16.5 cm) inside a backpack.

We will continue and build upon this process and drawing technique. Each participant will create a drawing box that fits any regular backpack or carry bag and walk with it in different locations. You can choose to walk wherever you like, either alone, in pairs or groups, and make as many drawings as you can. We encourage participants to walk naturally but also to experiment with different lengths of time, speeds, directions, surfaces, shoes, clothes, even walking styles, and to carry the drawing box in different parts of the body (back, chest, head, shoulders, hips, knees, feet). At the end of the workshop, we will reflect on our own experiences and mount our own exhibition at the Galleria Kopio (F-building 1, University of Lapland).

PROGRAMME:
Day 1 (27 September 2023)
10:00 – 10:10 Reception
10:10 – 10:40 Carlos Idrobo: Presentation of the research project Hermeneutics of Walking
10:40 – 11:00 Kalle Lampela: Drawing Motion – Process, Techniques, Experiences
11:00 – 11:20 Idrobo & Lampela: Introduction to the workshop
11:20 – 12:00 Handicraft work
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 16:00 Coordination and execution of afternoon walks

Day 2 (28 September 2023)
10:00 – 12:00 Morning walks / group walks in the forest areas near the university campus
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 16:00 Discussion and montage of the exhibition
17:00 – 18:00 Opening of the Exhibition

Participation in person only. No fees required. The necessary materials are included. Participants will pay for their own travel and accommodation costs. We will offer refreshments throughout the workshop at the university restaurant/cafeteria, which offers a wide range of dietary options. Participation is limited to up to 20 participants.

Full description of the workshop, updates, video, and sample images on the website provided: https://walklistencreate.org/walkingevent/walking-abstractions-a-walking-drawing-workshop-and-exhibition-in-lapland/

This workshop is organised by art historian, philosopher, psychologist, and artistic photographer Carlos Idrobo (Department of Art History, University of Turku), as part of his research project Hermeneutics of Walking, funded by the Kone Foundation, in collaboration with visual artist and associate professor Kalle Lampela (Faculty of Art and Design, University of Lapland).
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