Workshops: live artistic research
Usually, my artistic practice happens in solitude. I act as a sociologist of the cultural space, decoding the visual narratives of the environments I move through. However, I occasionally turn this private process into a participatory experience. My workshops are an invitation to step inside my head and see the local space through the analytical lens of my art practice. We treat the street and the landscape as a subject for live artistic research.
The concept
An inhabited space - be it city, town or village - is never just a neutral setting; it is a palimpsest of historical layers, cultural signs and psychotopographic frequencies. In these sessions, we bypass conventional landmarks and focus on the incongruent, odd, sociologically revealing, meaningful in an infividual way objects and areas. I guide participants to recognise the invisible tensions of a space - such as gentrification, decay, cultural enmeshments or reflections of collective trauma.
Through guided artistic prompts, we explore our subjective sensory experiences and find the visual language to express them. This is not an art class designed to produce pretty pictures; we use pens and paper to capture the logic of what we find - both externally and within ourselves. Ultimately, we turn individual observation into collective data, documenting hidden narratives of a place.
The formats
The workshops are adaptable to different spaces and environments, generally falling into two categories:
- Psychotopographic Walk: a guided walking act where we move from one abstract concept to another within urban space. Acting as researchers of the neighbourhood's interior weather, participants disperse to sketch visual answers to specific quests for meaning. It is an active investigation into the ruptures of meaning and cultural symbols hidden in plain sight.
- Experiential Mapping: an analogue, seated workshop designed for small groups. We delve into the affective texture of the city (or town, or village) and map the invisible structures that shape our emotional perception of the space and our daily movement. By examining the subjective routes and individual meanings bestowed on specific sites and areas, participants collaborate to construct a shared, multifaceted map of their environment.
Collaboration
These workshops are my artistic community work, generally offered free of charge. If a hosting venue or festival can cover the basic materials - such as notepads, black gel pens, pencils or charcoal - it is highly appreciated. There are no complex technical requirements; drawing and painting skills are not prerequisite to participation.
Upcoming dates
- 4-5 July 2026 – Berlin, Germany - Deconstructed Neukölln: a Psychotopographic Walk - [the registration link will be available in April 2026]
To discuss bringing a workshop to your venue or festival, please reach out via email alina@deconstructedtales.de.