Small Figures, Modern Lives: A Fundraising Workshop

Porcelain has a long and fascinating history, from it’s origins in China to it’s development in Europe and the flourishing of English Porcelain in the 18th and 19th centuries. The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, (the same year J.M.W Turner became Chair of the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution), brought a surge of energy to European factories. Porcelain figurines were heavily used to celebrate political shifts, military heroes, and peace treaties and became especially popular in Victorian homes, depicting idealised scenes of everyday life, fashion, romance and social roles. In this playful hands-on workshop, we’ll explore this tradition with fresh eyes and reimagine the porcelain figurine for the world we live in today. Using porcelain you’ll create your own small sculptural character inspired by contemporary life, reflecting people, identities, interests and experiences that make up our diverse world. These figures don’t need to be realistic or perfectly formed. Instead, we’ll embrace abstraction, exaggeration and the unexpected, allowing figures to be strange, playful, imperfect and a little messy, just like contemporary life itself. Think beyond traditional poses and polished Victorian perfection and create a character that feels relevant to now. You’ll add detail using blue underglaze and your pieces will be fired off site with a glossy transparent glaze finish. This workshop was kindly About The AGBI: This workshop benefits the AGBI - a charity that supports professional visual artists who are unable to work due to injury or illness. Find out more about their mission at www.agbi.org.uk Accessibility and Notes: The venue is fully wheelchair accessible - (please note our wheelchair accessible bathroom is located in the basement, which can be accessed via lift. Please let us know if you will require access in advance so we can ensure it is accessible). All materials are provided Please contact us for any access or support needs There will be a 15 minute break at 15:15 - 15:30 Spaces are limited - early booking is recommended All bathrooms are Gender Neutral