Drawing in the Nature Lab

About

In this workshop, the participants will study historical plant samples, explore the Botanical Garden, discover plant forms and structures with the microscope, and use the gathered knowledge to develop a graphical interpretation of the plant world.

The visual preoccupation with nature teaches seeing in the sense of conscious perception. Through eye and hand, drawing helps us to gain an embodied understanding of the form. In the play with translation and abstraction, we will develop our artistic perspectives.

The workshop is intended to provide an intensive study of the plant world. Historical templates from the Berlin University of the Arts teaching archives, as well as models and plant samples from the Botanical Museum will serve as a starting point. In the Botanical Garden, we will collect field experiences and rediscover the isolated plant part in its context. Then we will research the collected samples at the Humboldt University's Microscopy Centre and explore structures and growth principles in the microcosm. The participants of the workshop will transfer this comprehensive inventory into further artistic investigations and realize their visual interpretation of the plant world.

SCHEDULE

Day 1

Visiting the Berlin University of the Arts Archive
Drawing historical templates, models and plant samples

Day 2

Visiting the Botanical Garden
Field research

Day 3

Visiting the Microscopy Centre of the Humboldt University, Campus Nord, Charité
Investigation of plant sample material

Day 4

Berlin University of the Arts Laboratory for Drawing
Free working and individual consultations

Day 5

Berlin University of the Arts Laboratory for Drawing
Free working and final presentation

Course leader

Kerstin Hille, Oliver Thie

Fee info