Anna Liu’s workshop was one of the few where I experienced more than I had expected. With her background in architecture, Anna was interested in taking participants through the streets of Exmouth Market to capture the movement and essence of the afternoon.
The first thing we did to map the street was observe and discuss how to record these observations using different colored chalks. While walking down the market and speaking with Anna, we noticed several recurring patterns: groups of people huddled together, Deliveroo riders, solitary individuals, bikes intertwined with people, lime bikes parked between other bikes, people temporarily standing, and lastly, those simply passing through.
After this observation, we returned to the studio, where the group collectively created a system for the different colored chalks. White was used for transitory subjects, pink for huddles, yellow for one or two people, orange for sitting groups, blue for people pausing or waiting, and green for tree canopies.
Each pair took two colors—in Anna’s and my case, yellow and orange—and went back to the market to ask people if we could draw around their feet. Through the process of marking people’s feet, we experienced a variety of reactions. Some coldly refused, others were curious and wanted to know more about what we were doing, and there were comments like, “This feels like I’m standing on a crime scene,” and “Am I allowed to move from this spot?” Perhaps it was because I hadn’t prepared myself to receive such comments, but it was surprising to hear people interact with our actions and later with the marks left on the ground.
Once all the groups finished tracing the market, we gathered to outline the shadows of few of the trees. We also examined how the appearance of the street had changed, now filled with shapes of different colours. When we returned back to the studio to discuss how we found the workshop, unfortunately, Anna had to leave early due to her schedule. Although it would have been helpful to speak with Anna, Luci kindly led the conversation, and the workshop ended successfully.
Architect Anna Liu asks: “Can drawing be an everyday activity? Can it break down social barriers?”. Her workshop on 10 Oct will invite participants to engage with strangers in our local street through drawing. By mapping their feet as they stand and interact with each other we will make a temporary drawing on the pavements and road of Exmouth Market as a drawn trace of social interactions outside our studio window.
Anna Liu co-runs the architecture practice @tonkinliu located around the corner in their award winning Sun Rain Rooms house. She taught at the Architectural Association and along with Mike Tonkin they lead a wonderful team of young architects with a particular focus on relationships to nature and technical innovation.
For this drawing workshop Anna will lead us out of the studio into our neighbourhood – come and join us!
Workshop: DRAWING TO SOCIALLY UN-DISTANCE STRANGERS
with Anna Liu
Thur 10 October, 6.30-8.30pm, £10
Starting off at the studio.
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