Topolski was the first artist to establish a studio on the South Bank at the time of the Festival of Britain, from where he hand printed over 2,300 drawings in his broadsheet Chronicles. Feliks Topolski’s Studio is located in another arch below the new Festival Hall administration building.
In 2012, Topolski Memoir Ltd aims to restore Topolski’s original artist’s studio as a working art and print studio equipped with an off-set litho printing press and archive of original paintings and Chronicles, to become the heart of Topolski Memoir Ltd’s learning programme.
Our vision for the future of the Topolski Studio comprises the following three strands:
An active legacy
As a chronicler of some of the most significant moments and characters that shaped the twentieth century, Topolski was continually interacting with the events of his day. Through his methods of print production and the distribution of his eye witness Chronicles to subscribers from around the world, Topolski was at the heart of a worldwide political, cultural and social network. Topolski Studio believes in bringing alive this unique artistic practice through a programme of active learning opportunities for the local community. Rather than passively consuming the artwork and being educated about its historical significance, community members will learn from participating in the techniques and methods that Topolski pioneered as a tool for social and cultural engagement.
A contemporary intervention
Topolski Studio will be a contemporary intervention both in terms of how it will engage with and shape current drawing practices, contributing to their present resurgence, and also in how those practices, inspired by Topolski’s use of drawing as reportage, will involve people in current events and contemporary life. We intend to offer residencies to young people currently not in employment, education or training, where they will work together to produce, distribute and exhibit their own broadsheet Chronicles. They will use print as a strategy for social and political engagement, be artistically innovative and bring new perspectives to contemporary issues. This will widen pathways into and increase the diversity of the arts and cultural sector.
A community resource
Topolski Studio will be a centre of community life, providing artistic training and a space to experiment and enjoy art, particularly printmaking and drawing. Our community and artistic goals are not separate; we believe everyone can achieve excellence and, through engaging people in new techniques, we aim to demystify artistic production and make it open to all. Members of the community will participate in all aspects of the Studio and, through peer to peer learning schemes, will themselves become ‘experts’ and artists.