Not By Half: Richard Wilson opens up to RSHP staff about his artistic career

RSHP’s new Drawing Programme got off to a flying start on Friday night, with an inaugural lecture by Richard Wilson, of Slipstream fame.

The artist and sculptor regaled RSHP staff and invited guests with stories of the logistics behind some of his greatest pieces, and the way in which an idea which is impossible to explain in words can be easily understood through the power of drawing.

The lecture was the first of four planned for 2018. In between lectures, staff will practice their drawing skills at free drawing workshops, overseen by an external tutor. The workshops will be informal, open to all staff of all ability levels to enjoy with an evening glass of wine, but the relaxed approach does not take away from the centrality drawing is given at RSHP. Drawing is one of the many parts of the design process, and is especially effective at helping to think through ideas and problem-solve.

Discussing the reason why RSHP has set up a drawing programme, Associate Partner Maurice Brennan said: “Drawing is a means to an end in many cases, and at RSHP that end is an architectural end. Despite the advances in CAD, renders, and the fantastic world of 3D printing, the humble drawing still has a powerful resonance and is able to communicate on many levels.”