Automatic writing and drawing is a liberating and even therapeutic practice.
Artists usually draw without a theme or a subject when they want to warm up, stimulate their hand and imagination or bring the subconscious to the surface (the best example is the surrealists’ drawings). Irina Petrakova works with various media, from embroidery to video, and often uses automatic drawing as an element of her paintings and sculptures. This capturing of the initial creative impulse is synonymous with the subjects the artist is interested in—the condition of transformation of things and flesh, change and the effect of the earthly things, processuality. Since performance artists often incorporate viewers in the process, Irina will explain how interaction with the audience works in the context of performance. Then, in order to involve the body, together with participants she will perform several breathing and relaxation exercises. After learning about the technique and activating the body, each participant can create their own automatic drawing or work on a single collective drawing.