Movie by Jacek Taszakowski

Draftsmen’s Congress

Initiated by Paweł Althamer

The Draftsmen’s Congress is a continuous meeting of people who talk using images instead of words. Everyone is invited to join the discussion through paint, charcoal, collage, and other traditional materials and techniques, and react to issues like current politics, symbols of power, religion, economic disasters, and so on. Not happy with what other people paint? Use a paintbrush to cover their images or draw your comments next to them. Paweł Althamer incites a conversation and asks us to have an honest talk. Be polite or politically incorrect, frustrated or outraged, and fight others in an image battle. Picture your love, your hate, your opinions and demands. Spit out the truth and speak out.

 

The congress will take place in the St. Elisabeth Church in Berlin-Mitte, which is used for both: religious rites and cultural events. lt has the spirit of a temple, an atmosphere for the calm exchange of thoughts – but also for a noisy quarrel. The walls and the floor of the church, covered by a white surface, are a background for images and can be totally marked by the visitors. Many Berlin-based artists, architects, and other professionals who use drawings in their work accepted our invitation to participate in the congress. Non-professional draftsmen are also invited. In this project, authorship, hierarchies of expertise, and qualifications are blurred into an enterprise of illustrating excess, which is free and open to all. A series of workshops furthermore will bring together different social groups with clashing interests, beliefs, or opposing views who will be encouraged to communicate in a non-verbal way. The use of visual language is democratized in a mass conversation that only looks like an exhibition.

 

by Artur Żmijewski and Joanna Warsza

 

Paweł Althamer is an artist who creates social sculptures. He lives and works in Warsaw.

 

Groups larger than ten persons please contact us before your visit via register@berlinbiennale.de

 

More about the "Draftsmen's Congress"

Draftsmen’s Congress in Eisenhüttenstadt

Draftsmen’s Congress: Painted Man

A film from the workshop by Ivan Caponecchi. More >
Draftsmen’s Congress: Painted Man

MOLESKINE-Workshop at the St. Elisabeth-Church

Video by Luca Bogoni and Matteo Mattana More >
MOLESKINE-Workshop at the St. Elisabeth-Church

The Pornography of Everyday

A film from the workshop by Savvy Contemporary. More >
The Pornography of Everyday

“Urban Housewives Circle” in pictures

A report from the »Draftsmen's Congress«-workshop by Joanna Świerczyńska. More >
“Urban Housewives Circle” in pictures

Video reports from the St. Elisabeth-Church

Join us at the "Draftsmen's Congress“! More >
Video reports from the St. Elisabeth-Church

Events during the "Draftsmen's Congress"

30.06.2012

“The last one turns the light…!”

A workshop in the framework of »Draftsmen's Congress« by Bel Etage. More >
“The last one turns the light…!”

24.06.2012

USART BERLIN, re: drawing.

A workshop Draftsmen’s Congress in Eisenhüttenstadt More >
USART BERLIN, re: drawing.

10.06.2012

Everything can be a paintbrush

A workshop by Antje Majewski and Juliane Solmsdorf in the framework of the »Draftsmen's Congress« More >
Everything can be a paintbrush

09.06.2012

“Politics of the Poor” – a workshop with Pixadores

A presentation and painting workshop in Portuguese with English translation. More >
“Politics of the Poor” – a workshop with Pixadores

05.06.2012

Paweł Althamer presents KAZAN

Paweł Althamer und KAZAN present a miscellany of cymbals, gongs, triangles and tuning forks. More >
Paweł Althamer presents KAZAN

03.06.2012

“Forms for a Recorder” – musical olympics by Michał Górczyński

A workshop for kids in Polish with German translation. More >
“Forms for a Recorder” – musical olympics by Michał Górczyński

03.06.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Alevtina Kakhidze

Alevtina Kakhidze, a Ukrainian artist and collector, conducts the workshop. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Alevtina Kakhidze

31.05.2012

“Urban Housewives Circle” – Workshop by Joanna Świerczyńska

Workshop for all women of Berlin. More >
“Urban Housewives Circle” – Workshop by Joanna Świerczyńska

27.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Savvy Contemporary

A workshop on »The pornography of everyday life« – an allegory of the numerous perversions. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Savvy Contemporary

26.05.2012

“Beyond signs” – Performance and workshop by Ivan Caponecchi

Through the body we can feel what the eyes cannot see. More >
“Beyond signs” – Performance and workshop by Ivan Caponecchi

20.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Open Air Life-Drawing

A workshop in front of the St. Elisabeth-Church. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Open Air Life-Drawing

19.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Anita Staud

„DRAWING IN ACTION“BY ANITA STAUDWith participants from the publication project: „How do I tell it to a child...?“ (supported by Soziale Stadt) Mixed groups of residents, parents, children, adolescents,... More >

18.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Anita Staud

Mixed groups of residents, parents, children, adolescents, artists, homeless people, and prostitutes work with text and image on the topic of prostitution + children. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Anita Staud

13.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – workshop with Solvej Helweg Ovesen and Alexia Werrie

Sound artist Francesco Cavaliere will set the sound for the workshop and be present through a special music compilation. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – workshop with Solvej Helweg Ovesen and Alexia Werrie

12.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – workshop with Solvej Helweg Ovesen and Alexia Werrie

Sound artist Francesco Cavaliere will set the sound for the workshop and be present through a special music compilation. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – workshop with Solvej Helweg Ovesen and Alexia Werrie

10.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress”- Workshop with Joanna Świerczyńska

Workshop for all women of Berlin. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress”- Workshop with Joanna Świerczyńska

05.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Zirkumflex

Zirkumflex, a multi-faceted creative company, is both a design studio and project platform in Berlin. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Zirkumflex

03.05.2012

“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Joanna Świerczyńska

Wokrshop for all women of Berlin. More >
“Draftsmen’s Congress” – Workshop with Joanna Świerczyńska
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10th Berlin Biennale