Drawn / The Drawing Lab

Return of the biennial open-submission drawing exhibition, which aims “to explore the boundaries of drawing and celebrate it as both an autonomous discipline and an interdisciplinary tool”.

“Drawing has taken on different definitions across the centuries, crossing spatial and theoretical boundaries and creating intersections between disciplines as diverse as typography and photography. As a means of communication and navigation, drawing has taken on a universality and accessibility unlike any other medium. It is a building block of creativity, key to the visualisation and translation of ideas and practices, fundamental in making, doing, testing, designing, thinking, playing and living.

“It allows us to analyse, record, map, mark and form, making the abstract legible, and the legible oblique. Its history is inscribed with legibility/conversation as it skirts around the boundaries of text and image. It can be either a representation, or an expression, creating shadows and memories, marks and imprints, traces in space.

“Drawn celebrates this diversity, encouraging artists to explore the gallery using both wall and floor space, utilising both traditional and experimental techniques and technologies.

Submissions are invited from artists of any background who either draw or explore the concept of drawing in their work, including illustrators, videographers, sculptors, printers, embroiderers, typographers, animators and architects. This year’s invited artist is Norman Ackroyd RA.

Drawn will also be accompanied by The Drawing Lab, a space designed to encourage interaction and participation, welcoming all ages and abilities to investigate, discuss, test, create and play.

“This artist-led space will evolve throughout the exhibition as our artists-in-residence investigate the practice of drawing in the Lab, adding their own drawings and experiments to the walls. We will also be inviting you to make your own contribution by either participating in collaborative workshops, providing feedback, or taking part in one of our drawing games.

“A number of different artists and practitioners will be working in the space including RWA Academicians and Artist Network members exploring drawing through physical practice, discussion and workshops. If you are an artist / researcher / performer who would like to take part in this year’s Lab, either working in situ, trialing new practice, running workshops or devising activities please contact Joel Edwards on [email protected]

This year the Lab also features Bristol based artist Hannah Sullivan who will be inviting visitors, one at a time, to join her in an immersive drawing performance, Draw To Look. Come and join Hannah at her desk in a simple occasion to experience the ‘looking’ that drawing allows and the difference it makes.

Hannah will be in the Lab on April 2, April 23 April and May 7. Advance booking required via the RWA website.

Drawn is open Tue-Sat 10am-6pm/Sun 11am-5pm. Adults: £6.95 (includes a 70p donation)
Concessions: £4.95 (includes a 50p donation)
Under 16s/SGS, UoB & UWE students: FREE.

For more info, visit www.rwa.org.uk/whats-on/drawn-and-drawing-lab