Portrait Class At RAW

For 28 days in August 2022, Jamie Zubairi, or Zooby, performed in a play in which he played a character drawing what he saw as the play opened - the audience as they enter the performance space, settle and begin to watch the play. These A6 drawings form the starting exploration for these larger-than-life drawings that form the body of work in this residency.

This residency aims to questions the layers of fiction and reality an artist goes through to create a body of work. Where does the artist end and the fiction begin? Where is the reality of that specific audience and where does imagination and interpretation take over? Through working and reworking of the sketches and further drawings I intend to examine and explore the multiple questions that an artist explores while working on a body of work. Where does The Self end? The sketches were created in 15 seconds, under the stresses of performance and being witnessed, as well as embodying the tensions that the character was going through. Who drew the sketches? The artist Jamie Zubairi, or the character Kazumi Fujimoto, played by Jamie Zubairi?

Exploring themes of connection, fear, communication, layering of self-protection and the release into vulnerability as Zooby looks as dedication to practise, the various layers of reality that we, as humans exist. Do artists sketch to be seen? To better their practise? Is the subject seen through the artists' interpretation or does the viewer's interpretation add a further layer.

Background: The play was “IN THE WEEDS” by Joseph Wilde, directed by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, produced by Mull and Antobar Theatres, as performed at Summerhall, Edinburgh 2022. The play is about a Japanese scientist who is exploring the lesser known parts of the world for a sea-monster that he believes to have killed his family. His research takes him to an island in the Inner Hebrides, where he meets a mysterious girl, swimming in a loch. The play starts with Fujimoto taking copious notes of the flora and fauna that he observes. In reality, Zooby, playing Fujimoto, was taking thumbnail sketches of the audience as they entered and sat in the auditorium in the foggy dark. In the action of the play, the precious notebook gets thrown into the pool of water the lady is swimming in. By the end of the run of performances, Zubairi managed to salvage most of the 28 water-damaged notebooks


OPEN STUDIO

Throughout the residency Zooby will be working continuously on the further contents of this residency. As he is also in performance in My Neighbour Totoro in the West End there will be no evening sessions. Drop in to observe the works being created . Don't stand too still or you may be drawn.

Mon 14th 7-9pm WORKSHOP, see details

Tue 15th 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO

Wed 16th 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO

Fri 18th 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO

Mon 21st 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO 

Mon 21st 7pm PRIVATE VIEW

Tue 22nd 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO

Wed 23rd 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO

Fri 25th 10am-4pm OPEN STUDIO

Sat 26th OPEN STUDIO. THE ARTIST IS NOT PRESENT

Sun 27th 7pm -9pm FINISSAGE

PORTRAIT DRAWING WORKSHOP 

14 April 7pm-9pm. 

In this relaxed and light-hearted workshop for beginners and intermediate drawers using similar techniques Zooby uses to create his drawings. Charcoal, putty erasers and smudging sticks. Materials and A3 boards provided. Please bring your own drawing pads. Please book below. 

Model: Thomas Morris

TICKETS

£10/£8

VENUE:

Hamme Building, 

25 Shackleton Way, London, E16 2XJ 

Closest DLR: Gallions Way and a 10 minute walk

RAW Labs X Art Residency Space

Hamme Building
London, E16 2XJ