Serpent symbolisms: An interactive inquiry
About
Artist Wiebke Leister’s recent research is an exploration of snakes in both our Collection and throughout local traditions of painting across the centuries.
This participatory group workshop will explore how the varied depictions of serpents have represented both wisdom and deceit, danger and healing, redemption and destruction. Joined by Gallery Educator Katy Tarbard, the two lead a range of activities, including an open discussion, philosophical inquiry, thinking through gesture and drawing, as well as image clustering and pairing.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own stories about encounters with snakes as well as images of snakes or serpents from art and popular culture to the session to work with.
Further details will be sent to participants closer to the event.
Speakers
Wiebke Leister is an artist and researcher, who teaches at the Royal College of Art. Her work develops a performative understanding of how movement enters the structure of the still image, and how the liveness of viewing interacts with our interpretative processes. Building on her earlier research into the ambiguous character of snake-women in Japanese theatre, she is currently comparing contradictory serpent symbolisms in Western art contexts. Her recent book ‘Echoes & Callings: A Hannya Manifesto’ was published with Ma Bibliothèque in 2023.
Katy Tarbard has over 20 years of teaching and programming experience in gallery education departments, working to connect visitors of all ages with their love of artworks. Her areas of interest include the history of the National Gallery Collection and its methods of display. Her favourite artists include Titian, Turner and Van Gogh.
Friday Lates
Serpent symbolisms: An interactive inquiry