9 November – 1 December 2019
Preview: Friday 8th November 2019
Conference: Saturday 30th November 2019
To access the video of the conference please sign up here:
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
"FIGURATION TODAY"
Saturday 30th November 2019
Gallery opens: 10 am
Registration: 10 am - 10.45 am
Lunch break: One-hour lunch break
Conference ends: 5.30pm
Gallery closes: 6.30pm
SESSION 1: VISIONS OF THE BODY
Looking at how the body and the figure are articulated in representation and how this is affected by existing values and assumptions.
Speaker: Corinna Wagner
Associate Professor at Exeter University. Specialist in the anatomical body and the ways in which anatomy and art have interacted throughout history. Author of several books including the forthcoming title Transparent Bodies: Art and Anatomy.
Panellists:
Jane Clatworthy: Exhibiting Artist; representing male and female nudity.
Marinella Mezzanotte: Professional model and Writer.
Regina Jacobson: Artist; joining us from California.
SESSION 2: A PAINTER OF OUR TIME
Addressing the complex ways in which socio-political ideas are embodied in figurative work and how the content, the artist and the viewer relate.
Speaker: Conor Walton
Painter and theorist. Discussing his concept of “dancing along cultural fault-lines” and how he sees his work to be related to “asymmetrical warfare”.
Panellists:
Paul Brandford: Exhibiting Artist, curator of You Are Here, Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery.
Wendy Elia: Exhibiting Artist; RWA, Lynn Painter–Stainers, Threadneedle and BP Portrait Award.
Charmaine Watkiss: Exhibiting Artist, speaker at Why Drawing Matters symposium.
SESSION 3: EMBODIED MYTHOLOGIES
Discussing the complex ways in which the physical and haptic working process and the embodied experience of the work manifests itself.
Speaker: Elina Cerla (Story & Texture) & Jen Sendall (Modern Myths)
Artists, theorists and curators of Figure This!
Panellists:
John Devane: Exhibiting Artist; researching visual Imagination and touch.
Emma Brassignton: Film maker, Masked Movement Ritual.
Figure This!
Exhibition and conference exploring fresh contemporary figuration through dialogue.
Saturday 30th November 2019
One-day conference
A full and enriching day of talks, panel discussions and open debate. A chance to meet others who share a passion for figuration within a context which encourages critical thinking and exchange. There is a current resurgence of interest in figurative painting and drawing and yet the critical dialogue in figuration has been slow to develop. It is important to address the questions relevant today, using the past but as a springboard to new criticality. Figure This! is creating an exciting platform to tackle urgent and unanswered concerns.
Bringing together a dozen specialists to speak about contemporary figuration, Figure This! aims to be a reference in its field. Debate has to be rigorous, but also playful and underpinned by a willingness to exchange ideas and grow. The speakers will refer to both theory and praxis in their talks. They will be joined by panelists in round-table discussions to push further into the questions at the core of figuration. The audience is key and will be invited to take part in the conversation.
The conference aims to refuel questioning minds and push the discourse surrounding figuration forward; forging new visions of drawing and painting.
You can sign up to access the video of the conference here