Venice Fellowship - Day 3

Today Arts University Bournemouth came to take over the space downstairs in the Pavillion and run workshops, have discussions, and create installations. As I was working, I wasn't able to participate, however I did get the chance to wander around inside and look at the drawings they'd left on the floor.

Over a few workshops back in the UK, they had created Drawings in all sorts of media on paper, some of which were crumpled, sculptural, cut up, deconstructed and reconstructed in every way. It reminded me of the work we create in my course during group workshops, so it was good to see some familiarity.

It was interesting to hear the feedback from visitors to the Pavillion. While some were glad that there was something going on within the space, many were upset that there were workshops, the most common response being "if its meant to be empty, why is it not empty?". 

I also noticed that as often the team from AUB were out on the steps, welcoming people in to the British Pavillion, many visitors got the wrong idea of the installation. As they were told that the exhibition was about "movement and creativity", many of them went away thinking that was what the Island idea was about, when actually it was about Brexit, the acqua alta, the empty space, leaving, providing a space for discussion, etc. It was interesting for me to see how the visitors, the AUB team and the Venice Fellows were interacting with each other. 

(This is not a review of AUB and its interaction with the British Pavillion space, and all these thoughts are my own and do not represent that of the British Council, the Biennale or any other party.)

Moving on.

Visual Research
One of my most recent ideas for the project I am working on in Venice, besides painting and drawing in response to what I see, is cumulative drawing of lines.

By this I mean, Venice is full of water lines, cracks, crevaces, and so I want to devote a page of my sketchbook each day to drawing those lines and documenting them with photographs. I am also thinking of using washes of watercolour to elude to the multicoloured walkways in the city.

I will be posting pictures and updating my progress as the project moves on. Tonight, I will be collecting my materials for a long day of walking and researching tomorrow. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to contact me below.