Look, Discuss and Draw Activity

This activity focuses on various photographs and montages in the ' States of Flux' wing which explore the way that a range of artists have represented the theme of everyday life .

Please note: These works on paper are replaced regularly because they are very fragile to light. If you find that the works below are not on display, paintings by Fernand Leger 'Still Life with a beer Mug'1921-2 and Natalya Goncharova 'Linen'1913 can be used as alternatives.

The aim is to investigate how artists have used everyday objects, noticing the range of materials and ideas explored. Prepare yourselves with stools, pencils and paper for the following activities:

• Find the photograph 'Breakfast' by Rodchenko, 1928 and notice his use of the camera angle to photograph over the head of his subject.
• Make a note or sketch of how he has framed this.
• What can you photograph or draw at home/ work that can echo this framing?
• Look at the 2 photographs 'Los Agachados' 1932 by Manuel Alvarez-Bravo and 'San Francisco' 1933 by Dorothea Lange. Notice how in each case the photographs have been composed, or cropped, to frame a particular scene and view of people. What interests you all about this type of framing?
• Discuss as a group a modern equivalent for each photograph, perhaps a view of people sitting in a cafe or listening in a meeting.
• You might want to sketch a group of people you see in Tate Modern, try the cafe on level 4 or around the comfy sofas on level 3 for possible subjects. Most visitors to Tate Modern enjoy the fact that so many people are visiting and studying art, so it can be easy to work on a 5 minute sketch of a group in the gallery, or you could use your own group as subject matter. Think about the kind of composition you want, based on what you have seen in the photographs.
• Lastly, find Pierre Bonnards' painting 'Cafe' 1915, you may want to discuss what is different in mood, composition and the role played by colour in this painting of a very similar theme to the photograph 'Breakfast' you have studied.

Back at your work place, notice how groups sit when you are all relaxing over a break or at work in a group. Try out a series of compositions, using photography, video or drawing that uses some of the methods you have noticed in gallery visit. See if you can display this artwork in a place where people regularly walk by or meet, perhaps in a foyer area or meeting space so you can get responses to your ideas.