a thousand and one stories

A collective workshop by Praneet Soi

For three weeks TAVROS will be transformed into a working studio, welcoming children and teenagers from the 2^nd primary school of Tavros, the 5^th high school of Kallithea and from the NGO METAdrasi, to collaborate with artist Praneet Soi. Having been in conversation with TAVROS for over three years, Praneet Soi finally sees this chapter materialise, bringing his long-term research into a collective, hands-on process. Together, they will observe their neighbourhood, drawing architectural details, shopfronts, trees and people from their local environment, in order to collectively produce an exhibition of paintings that will be open to the public until the end of June. 

Based on the methodology of the Drawing Machine, devised by Praneet Soi and designed in collaboration with architectural office A Whale’s Architects, students will have the opportunity to visualise their neighbourhood through a simplified process of documenting the world around them. These drawings will be translated into their own painterly lexicon of the world they live in, to be presented as an exhibition at TAVROS. Through this open-ended, deeply collaborative and process driven programme, TAVROS, is building on a long history of thinking critically about the role cultural practices play in educational systems. It is continuing its curiosity in experimenting with curatorial forms, experimental pedagogies, as well as its commitment to promoting working on a long-term basis with artists as well as our local communities (Praneet Soi already designed and worked with the 2^nd primary school in last year’s project Oasis). Lastly, it reflects an interest in constantly questioning and expanding the possibilities of what an independent arts space in Athens can offer to the communities it is involved with.

Praneet Soi’s Process – Day One:
“At the heart of Materiality lies the act of translation.

The Drawing Machine is, in part, born of my interest in representation. In 2003, I spent time exploring the Panorama Mesdag in Den Haag. The first Drawing Machine I designed that year was inspired by the glass cylinder Hendrik Willem Mesdag used to create a panoramic view of Scheveningen for his painting. This is the second prototype. Through many conversations with Maria-Thalia, the idea of using this machine as a drawing tool started to take shape. I was introduced to Iris Lykourioti of A Whale’s Architects, and together we built this prototype for the workshop and exhibition.

The Drawing Machine workshop was designed to make drawing more engaging for a younger audience. At the heart of drawing lies the belief in multiplicity, and this workshop embraces that very thinking.”

— Praneet Soi

Parallel events

Saturday 5 April 2025, 16:00 – 17:00 | Discussion with Praneet Soi, Iris Lykourioti, Maria-Thalia Carras

A series of Drawing Machine workshops will be conducted by Maria Plousiou, more details will be announced soon