What Do Pictures Sound Like? (Ages 7–12)

In the first part of the workshop, we’ll take a closer look at selected works in the exhibition and seek answers to the question of how one can “hear” a painting. Where does the rhythm in Julie Mehretu’s paintings come from? What are her musical inspirations? What symbols can we find on the canvases? Are there shapes hidden there that resemble sounds? We’ll discuss why the artist’s works look like maps, writing, and musical scores all at once. We’ll explore what happens to a painting when we get very close to it, and what happens when we step back. Mehretu’s canvases hold a wealth of emotions. Together, we’ll consider whether emotions are easier to convey through sound and music, or through images. During the tour, we’ll also examine the monotype technique and see how traces, imprints, and hand gestures become a completely new language here.

In the creative part, we’ll work together to find our own way of discovering sounds in visual art. We’ll see if we can illustrate the sounds and voices of family members using lines and marks! We’ll play a very quiet concert—we’ll listen to the rustling of brushes, pencils, and paper as we crumple it in our hands. We’ll use techniques employed by the artist herself: we’ll work in layers, make impressions, and scratch with various tools. Families will collaborate to create their own layered paintings, which will serve as a record of what participants heard and felt through movement.

Active participation by at least one adult is required for this event.

 

Your workshop ticket grants you access to the exhibition (for up to 3 hours from the start time of the workshop).

 

Weronika Siemińska – MSN educator, anthropology student (with a particular interest in the connections between human and non-human beings). She is a practitioner of traditional Polish music.