As a multi-disciplinary artist, Ram Samocha constantly challenges himself with the shift between different mediums, finding new ways of combining two and three dimensions. Samocha’s work focuses on the issues of personal and global transformation and combines drawing with video, installation, sound, and live performance.

During the pandemic situation, Samocha found himself going back and revisiting, in his studio, the drawings that he created live in the past. Those energetic and expressive drawings were created in a short period of time in front of and sometimes in collaboration with a live audience. These drawings were made with colour pencils, wax crayons, chalk, acrylic, and ink on stone paper. Samocha worked with the remnants from his past public drawing performances and created with them a new body of work. He chose to rework them, this time using metalpoint – a traditional and highly skilled drawing technique that is very physical, forcing him to work with a greater focus on the final image. Samocha developed a unique technique by drawing with a drill on the stone paper, which allowed him to transfer the two dimensions of the paper into a three-dimensional object. Working with this technique and with mixed media resulted in unexpected combinations that allowed the artist to build the image gradually, sometimes over months, shifting the centre of his work from a more primal drawing action to a rich and layered new painting.

Ram Samocha is the founder and director of Draw to Perform, a Brighton based company that promotes drawing performance practice. Since 2013, Draw to Perform has been organizing art events and running educational residencies and conducting workshops. Along with his upcoming solo exhibition at Phoenix Art Space, Samocha will also curate an international drawing performance festival that will run in the gallery space over two weekends. It will include live performances by the artists, workshops, and artist talks. See below for dates of the festival events and more info.

EXHIBITION + FESTIVAL EVENTS

Exhibition Opening
Friday 1 July, 18.00 – 20.00. Live performance 18:30-19:00.

Draw to Perform Day 1
Saturday 9 July, 12.00 – 20.00
Includes performances from Anji Main, Graham Dean, Lola and Yukao Meet. Find out more

Draw to Perform Day 2
Sunday 10 July, 11.00 – 20.00
Includes performances and workshops from Elizabeth Tomos, Lola and Yukao Meet, Neil Curtis. Find out more

Draw to Perform Day 3
Saturday 16 July, 12.00 – 20.00
Includes performances from Neil Curtis, Joseph Wilk, Nick Sayers and a video installation from Nic Sandiland. Find out more

Draw to Perform Day 4
Sunday 17 July, 11.00 – 20.00
Includes performances and workshops from Ram Samocha and Christine Coste & Catherine Ursin, and a video installation from Nic Sandiland. Find out more

Ram Samocha Artist Talk
Saturday 23 July, 12.00 – 13.00
Join the artist for a walking tour of the exhibition space.
Free, drop-in
– This event has now been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

VISITING THE GALLERIES
The galleries at Phoenix Art Space are open Wednesday – Sunday, 11.00 – 17.00 during exhibition dates.

• You do not need to book in advance of your visit. Entry is free.
• Mask wearing is optional, please be considerate of those who choose to wear one.
• Our cleaners clean high-contact areas regularly.
• Sanitizer is available throughout the building.
• Please stay at home if you are feeling unwell.

     

 

Title photo credit @ Manja Williames