Cardboard City, Week One: Live Sketchbook

In this lesson we refrenced Boltanski's work by using each other as models for iron sculptures. Firstly, we rolled out strips of paper to cover the whole floor, then got into pairs; we chose interesting poses then laid down on the paper, drawing around one another with felt pen.


Then, as research for Cardboard City paintings, we drew architecture and buildings from a college window - we drew the view that we could see. Elizabeth and I drew the Chronicle Building, shops, part of the college, the church and part of the University. This was all drawn directly onto the window; it was meant to be expressive, drawn in brightly coloured pens, not critical.


Elizabeth drawing onto the window.


Later, after the window drawings, we went back to the drawings on the floor, chose an interesting pose and using a coloured pencil, drew it in a smaller scale on A4. Using wire, I had to try and make it bend and follow the shape of the drawing to create a wire figure similar to Boltanski's puppets - it was difficult trying to get the wire fit the shape. We then had to give our figures a brain, heart and lungs using smaller/thinner and different coloured wire.


We then watched a video of Boltanski's Théâtre d’ombres, in order to get an idea of what we would be using our iron sculptures for and what we'd be creating. The video itself was very atmospheric and inspiring, however it was also slightly creepy and gave me a sense of desperation - possibly because it is inspired by the Holocaust.