Senior Partner at Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Stirling Prize winning architect Ivan Harbour, is to be announced as the newest patron of visual literacy charity, The Big Draw, on Saturday 22nd September 2018.
Watch Ivan discuss architecture, drawing and The Big Draw...
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is an international architectural practice based in the Leadenhall Building inLondon. Over the past four decades, RSHP has attracted critical acclaim and awards with built projects across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia.
The announcement will be made by Kate Mason, Director of The Big Draw, during the launch of #ImaginetheLine, a weekend long event taking place at London’s Docklands.
During the announcement, Kate Mason will say:
‘It is a privilege to announce Ivan Harbour as a Patron of The Big Draw charity and to collaborate with an individual for whom we know drawing is a passion – as he has previously stated, ‘drawing is my life’.
Ivan’s championing of the power and universality of drawing reflects the fundamental messages behind The Big Draw – that everyone can draw, that drawing offers an unrivaled efficacy of communication, and that drawing has the innate ability to transcend boundaries and barriers. In a shifting culture the democratizing power of drawing and mark making remains constant, but it is a fluid language – a visual literacy – that is ever evolving and always open to all.
On behalf of the trustees, team, patrons and ambassadors, we are delighted that Ivan is joining us at what are exciting times.’
Commenting on the forthcoming announcement, Ivan Harbour said:
'I’m delighted to be patron of the Big Draw. Drawing has been central to many of my formative experiences, whether expressing myself as a child, or designing buildings in later life. It has been key to putting my thoughts down in ways that are difficult to express through words. These days, drawing faces much competition as a tool for expression or representation, so I feel honoured to be part of an organisation which reminds us what a powerful communication tool we have evolved with and how it remains absolutely relevant in our modern world.
Everyone can draw. There is no such thing as a bad drawing; it doesn’t require you to have accurate syntax or grammar. It’s universal enough that you can have a wobbly line or a straight one – it really doesn’t matter.'
The Big Draw is a visual literacy charity that aims to promote drawing as a universal language and a tool for learning, expression and invention.
In becoming a patron of The Big Draw, Ivan Harbour, joins a distinguished roster of supporters, including famous Illustrators Sir Quentin Blake, Gerald Scarfe CBE, Posy Simmonds MBE, and former Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell; Architects Lord Foster of Thames Bank and Narinder Sagoo; Artists David Hockney OM CH and Bob & Roberta Smith RA; journalist and broadcaster Andrew Marr; and physicist and mathematician Sir Roger Penrose OM.
Harbour continued:
‘Drawing has and will continue to have a role in society as an absolute primary way of communicating because it is a universal language. By drawing, the speed at which you can convey information and ideas discussed in a forum lets people realise that they’re able to have an input into evolving ideas, as no drawing is ever definitive. With drawing, there’s always room for contribution and evolution – elements which are fundamental to the design process.
The Sketch Crawl for me is a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and inspire confidence in one another in their ability to put pen or pencil to paper within a welcoming group environment, making those initial explorations against the architectural backdrop of the Thames skyline; learning that mistakes don’t exist, that the best ideas can be borne from experimentation.’
#ImaginetheLine is an ambitious sketch crawl, which will bring together amateur sketchers with professional artists as well as world-class architect, Ivan Harbour for a weekend of drawing, design and discovery across London’s Docklands. Curated by The Big Draw and The Line - London's first dedicated modern and contemporary art walk– it will take place as part of UNITY Arts Festival and OPEN HOUSE London 2018. Find out more.
The Big Draw is also the founder and driving force behind The Big Draw Festival - a global, month-long festival celebrating the universal language of drawing, which will take place from 1-31st October, this year. Click here to get involved.