Led by artist Sarah Sparkes

Mondays 22 February 2010 – 29 March 2010, 18.45–20.45

This course is an exploration of the concepts and design that underpin the groundbreaking works of Theo van Doesburg, De Stijl and their modernist contemporaries. You will use paper engineering, commonly known as the pop up book as a way to explore these ideas, merging colour, sculpture, architecture and graphic design, but with paper! This course is perfect if you want to explore the ideas behind abstract art and modern design in a playful and practical way.

The sessions are both a practical introduction to paper engineering techniques, from dramatic pop-ups to magical, moveable pictures, but also an opportunity to explore, discuss and critically engage with the Tate exhibition Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde.

We will make visits to the exhibition to be inspired by examples of the innovative design principles and use of simple colour and geometric shapes that van Doesburg and his contemporaries saw as the future for modern culture. In the studio, you can give free rein to your imagination and experiment with paper engineering techniques, producing dynamic mechanisms that exemplify key principles of modernist design.

The objects, drawings and paintings in the gallery provide the ideas for the production of your own pop-up books that are both a response to the exhibition and unique objects in their own right. We will also consider this medium in relationship to historical modern movements such as De Stijl and contemporary artists that work with books.

No technical knowledge is required. All levels of ability are welcome.

Sarah Sparkes is an artist and curator. 

Visit Tate's Flickr photostream to view work from the Paper Engineering course.

Tate Modern  McAulay B
£110 (£90 concessions), booking recommended
Price includes materials and refreshments

  

This event is related to the Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde: Constructing a New World exhibition