Delivered by James Langdon and Peter Nencini
This workshop will introduce you to the mysterious science of pataphysics, as a resource for designers.
Pataphysics is the invention of a nineteenth-century French author, Alfred Jarry, defined by him as the “science of imaginary solutions.”
Pataphysics continues today as an International College dedicated to Jarry’s idea that every event in the world is a unique happening, not subject to any general or repeatable laws.
Drawing on the College’s ideology and publications, this workshop will explore exceptions and discontinuities in simple design exercises.
Materials: please bring your preferred writing and drawing tools and materials.
Suitable for people aged 18+
Click here to see more from James Langdon
Click here to see more from Peter Nencini
This workshop is in association with the exhibition Mould Map 6 – Terraformers.
Imprints of Culture explored the contemporary production and use of Indian block prints. Like few other objects, block prints embody richly diverse histories that have been shaped by trade, conquest and colonisation, technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
This exhibition showed how block printing, one of India’s foremost crafts, has not only played a role in the ritual life of the subcontinent but also in the creation of visual identity. Integral to caste dress and modern urban style, block prints have been a significant source of revenue through centuries of domestic and international trade.
This show included block prints from leading centres of the craft in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, including traditional designs as well as innovations. It has been developed in collaboration with block printers in these areas as well as fashion designer, Aneeth Arora.
This exhibition was supported by the British Academy (International Partnership and Mobility Scheme, 2014-17). The research underpinning it was funded by a Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2012-14).
Read a recent Q&A with the curator, Eiluned Edwards, as she talks to Aesthetica magazine about the exhibition.
Preview
Wednesday 24 February, 5 pm – 7.30 pm
Joining us for the special preview event will be Deirdre Figueiredo, MBE, who will deliver a welcome speech at 6 pm.
Deirdre is the Director of Craftspace in Birmingham. Aside from the Crafts Council, Craftspace is the only independent crafts promotion, development and touring agency in the country and as such occupies a unique position in the national infrastructure for the contemporary crafts. It supports the creative industries whilst also building social and human capital within communities.
Apart from her position at Craftspace, Deirdre has also played a wider voluntary role contributing to cultural policy and strategy through a range of advisory panels, boards and steering groups including the Museums Association Equal Opportunities panel, Regional Council Member of Arts Council West Midlands, member of Arts Council Capital Lottery panel, Creative and Cultural Skills Advisory Panel and Birmingham City Council cultural strategy working groups.
Block Printing Demonstration
To coincide with the exhibition, Bonington Gallery is delighted to host a public block printing demonstration with Abduljabbar M. Khatri, a renowned block printer from Kachchh district, Gujarat, India.
Join us for a full day of workshops led by artist and Near Now Studio member Matt Woodham. Taking place at Broadway, you will learn to use specially designed software and hardware systems to create live video, interactive installations and generative art – utilising technologies such as virtual reality, machine learning and analogue devices.
In partnership with Near Now, Matt presents a series of six creative, DIY workshops over two days, led by expert artists and toolmakers. Participants will learn a cross-section of cutting-edge techniques to create generative and computational artworks.
Book your place now
10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Fragment:Flow with Paul Fennell
1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Generative artwork in VR with Prefix Studios
4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
Cymatics with Zach Walker
Matt Woodham is an artist, designer and technologist. He creates interactive installations, experimental websites, moving image and graphic design. His practice and research explores system dynamics, informed by his background studying psychology and neuroscience. He investigates the common dynamics between systems of various scales, from quantum mechanics, to human behaviour. He uses hardware and software to harness behaviour such as feedback loops and randomness, to create organic generative visuals. He is particularly focussed on building entertaining, interactive and playful experiences which have underlying theory. He feels that harnessing nature’s mechanisms has the power to delight an audience, acting as a Trojan horse to ignite interest in the laws, rules and biases which govern us.
Join us for a full day of workshops led by artist and Near Now Studio member Matt Woodham. Taking place at Broadway, you will learn to use specially designed software and hardware systems to create live video, interactive installations and generative art – utilising technologies such as virtual reality, machine learning and analogue devices.
In partnership with Near Now, Matt presents a series of six creative, DIY workshops over two days, led by expert artists and toolmakers. Participants will learn a cross-section of cutting-edge techniques to create generative and computational artworks.
Book your place now.
10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Touch Designer with Studio Above&Below
1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Runway with Matt Woodham
4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
VDMX with Dan Tombs
Matt Woodham is an artist, designer and technologist. He creates interactive installations, experimental websites, moving image and graphic design. His practice and research explores system dynamics, informed by his background studying psychology and neuroscience. He investigates the common dynamics between systems of various scales, from quantum mechanics, to human behaviour. He uses hardware and software to harness behaviour such as feedback loops and randomness, to create organic generative visuals. He is particularly focussed on building entertaining, interactive and playful experiences which have underlying theory. He feels that harnessing nature’s mechanisms has the power to delight an audience, acting as a Trojan horse to ignite interest in the laws, rules and biases which govern us.
Here is a selection of photos of a workshop that was delivered by Giorgio Sadotti’s as part of Shapeless Impact Not Time Slow Is (Flits By).
