Neo-tactilism

Neo-Tactilism. Tactile drawings in nature.
18.03.2011
Performance in urban environment.

Author Atanas Totlyakov

For the purposes of the event a new instrument for “tactile drawing” has been developed. It is a frame made of hard base and elastic covering layer (180mm / 270mm / 8 mm). A square (size 120mm / 120mm and 4mm in depth) is cut into the elastic layer, and into this square slot the “drawer” can place a semi-hard sheet (PVC material) that is prone to pressure and gets easily engraved. People draw on the PVC sheet with metal instruments that engrave various forms on the surface as the person is blindfolded, thus shutting down the main sense used in the arts –vision – where the person drawing develops shapes and figures in low relief that come much more out of his and her inner vision.

Situation:
Each participant takes a “working” position as before him/her on a table all needed istruments are laid out as well as an object of inspiration – an ocean shell. The shell is chosen for its tactile richness (high-relief exterior side and “ideally” smooth interior). With eyes folded, the participant interprets the touch with the shell and expresses the sensorial experience in the drawing.
This frame has been used in other presentations of the project and in author artistic objects.