Celebrating Art and Architecture

27 June 2012

Julia Midgley, Reader in Documentary Drawing, and LJMU's Art and Design Academy are central to an exhibition currently being held in London.

Entitled BUILT, the exhibition features the work of artists who have produced drawings and paintings of architecturally impressive buildings. The RIBA award-winning Art and Design Academy (ADA) was designed by Rick Mather Architects.

During the exhibition, Rick Mather himself joined Julia for 'an in conversation with' event, where both architect and artist talked about their experiences of the construction of the building from their two very different perspectives. 

As part of a project which took nearly two years to complete, Julia produced drawings of the ADA as it was being constructed, with her first piece being drawn in January 2007 and her last, of the finished external shell of the building, being completed in December 2008.

Speaking about the project and the exhibition, Julia said: "Drawing the construction of the ADA was a real experience. It was the first time I'd worked on a building site and there was a lot to consider such as Health and Safety Regulations and the equipment I had to wear, some of which made drawing more difficult, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Responding to the visual stimulus was very interesting and it was fantastic to watch the building come to life. Of the four people who are involved in the exhibition I'm the only one who has then gone on to work inside the building. It's a complete experience for me - I was involved in its early stages and now I am enjoying the architect's vision.

"I was delighted to be invited to take part in the exhibition because the drawings of the ADA form a large portfolio and archive of work and I am pleased that so many of the pieces will be seen in London, especially during a year which is so eventful for the capital.

"I was also very pleased to be speaking with Rick Mather himself.  We had not met before but he was very interested in the drawings, which he had not seen in the flesh, and he was particularly keen to hear how the building works both as a School of Art and Design and as a creative hub."

Also taking part in BUILT is Jeanette Barnes, an alumna of LJMU. Jeanette, who studied Fine Art, has been recording the construction of seminal buildings in the city of London, including the Olympic arenas.

The exhibition takes place at the new Threadneedle Space, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London, until 7 July 2012. Admission is free.

For further information see: www.mallgalleries.org.uk