Art
Architect, Artist, Musician, Dancer:
Saranjit Singh Birdi
An Exhibition of Drawings
NEWS REPORT
cogn: The Root Of I
An exhibition of drawings
by Saranjit Singh Birdi
Friday, 8 May 2015 - 10:00 am to
Monday, 15 June 2015 - 17:00 pm, at
The Coach House Gallery, Winterbourne House & Garden, University of Birmingham, 58 Edgbaston Park Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2RT, United Kingdom
After discovering an uncanny ability to draw with his feet, trained architect Saranjit Singh Birdi started to explore the use of line drawing as a medium of expression, information and endeavour. The work in the exhibition is the result of three years funded research supported by the Arts Council of England and the University of Birmingham's School of Bioscience and Psychology.
Also on show will be examples of work produced by stroke survivors from the University's 'Stroke Group' and the 'Life After Stroke Centre' in Bromsgrove where Saranjit has run workshops.
Throughout the course of the exhibition, Saranjit will visit the site to work on new pieces produced through live drawing presentations which visitors will get the opportunity to participate in.
The exhibition is presented in the beautiful and appropriate setting of Winterbourne House and Garden, University of Birmingham. [Part of the gardens will be opened for the Private View 7.00 - 9.00 pm on Friday, 8 May 2015, at 7:00 - 9:00 pm.]
* * * * *
Born 1960 in Punjab, Saranjit has lived in the United Kingdom since 1965. He trained and worked as an architect from 1979 to 2004 and thereafter established a professional arts practice in 2000. He concurrently trained and performed jazz-street-contemporary dance and jazz percussion.
He explains his project thus:
At the art-science frontier using drawing to explore neuroplasticity and cognitive limits of the body, this overlay self portrait and dance movement explore a synthesis between drawing and dance.
The video work suggests a nexus or cross-roads for the two. The spontaneous and improvised dance moves are choreographic 'sketch drawings' and, conversely, the sketch portrait uses an alternation of right and left foot as a dancer may in footwork.
The title relates to attempts by audiences to categorise the work with reference to normal, mimetic, hand drawing or bodily disability as a reason for deploying feet.
The self portrait in front of a mirror (shown on the right, 3rd from bottom) also exposes the intense concentration required in its creation, in opposition to the free and playful, rhythmic footwork.
* * * * *
For info, please CLICK here, or call 0121 414 3003.
May 6, 2015