Reimagining Negative Space: A Collage Journey - facilitated by Sarah Smith

Have you ever thought about the deeper meaning of “negative” space? All the bits and pieces we discard when doing collage? What if we kept all of those discards and repurposed them? What if we took the visual transformation of negative into positive space as a metaphor for how to approach life? And what if that transformation had infinite possibilities? In this workshop, we will take inspiration from architecture, design and nature to create an original design and then explore how to recycle the negative spaces we might have thrown away. We’ll rearrange and photograph each iteration, creating a dialogue between pieces that might even end up telling a story!

After years of deconstructing language as a translator, Sarah has discovered that she can transfer this skill to art. She appreciates the big picture, but likes to break images down into parts and see how many ways they might be put back together to bring new meaning. She sees collage as the ideal metaphor for capturing different perspectives, flipped narratives and just general rule-breaking—all of which she believes are necessary skills for the future. She recently collaborated on the design a workshop for over 100 international students, in which collective collage was used to embody the IDGs (Inner Development Goals) at the Summit of the Future in Doha, Qatar.

Collage Working Club (CWC) is a weekly open workspace for artists working in the medium of paper. Organised in the format of alternate ‘drop in’ sessions and workshops masterclasses, it has both a regular facilitator, whilst also involving the artist community in the sharing of knowledge and skills. Providing materials, education and connections is the primary aim of CWC, and it will do this through the interdisciplinary art of collage as both an art form and a tool for personal growth.

O Collage Working Club (CWC) é um espaço de trabalho semanal aberto a artistas que trabalham com o suporte papel. Organizado no formato de sessões alternadas e masterclasses, tem um facilitador regular, ao mesmo tempo que envolve a comunidade de artistas na partilha de conhecimentos e competências.Fornecer materiais, educação e ligações é o principal objetivo do CWC, e fá-lo-á através da interdisciplinaridade da colagem como uma forma de arte e uma ferramenta para o crescimento pessoal.

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