Rebekkah drops by for art lesson with a difference

A striking figure will join pupils at a Leeds primary school this week for an art lesson with a difference.

The imposing sculpture, called ‘Rebekkah’, will be leaving Leeds Art Gallery for the very first time and will be temporarily installed at Shakespeare Primary School in Burmantofts on June 9.

The visit is part of the gallery’s ongoing efforts to get their world-class art collection into the community, ensuring art is still accessible to the public while the building itself is closed for essential repairs.

A recent acquisition presented to Leeds Arts Gallery by the Contemporary Art Society, ‘Rebekkah’, is the work of artist Simon Fujiwara, who also exhibited at the gallery last year as part of the hugely successful British Art Show 8.

Inspired in part by the famous Terracotta Warriors of ancient China, ‘Rebekkah’ is made up of a series of delicate plaster casts of a woman’s body and addresses themes of mass production and consumerism.

The school visit has been made possible through the Art in the Public Sector project, led by local artist Paul Digby.

During the day, Leeds Art Gallery staff will lead workshops along with Paul, where children at the school will be given the chance to do their own sketches of the sculpture, developing their drawing skills and later using the drawings to create small clay figures.

Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for museums and galleries, said:

“While essential work is carried out on Leeds Art Gallery, it’s very important to us that people in Leeds still have the opportunity to engage with the gallery and its magnificent collection.

“By taking this thought-provoking piece out into one of our schools, it gives young people a unique opportunity to get some inspiration, learn more about sculpture and drawing and hopefully reflect on what art means to them.”

The project is supported by East Street Arts, Arts Council England, Leeds Emergency Services and Artforms.

ENDS

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Stuart Robinson

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Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk