‘The Sun’ workshop

at Democratische School Eindhoven DOE040

Held with Barbara Vignaux, at Demorcratische School Eindhoven. To read about the philosophy of school please visit https://www.doe040.nl/over-doe

The sun workshop was held on June 20th 2024, with the intention of making students at the school more conscious of the presence of the sun in our lives, and that without the sun, no life, including ours, is possible. 

Making Cyanotype prints gave us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the power of the sun playfully. The process was almost ritualistic in nature in sharing with others our own thoughts on how ‘the sun’ supports us. 

For this workshop, Barbara Vignaux’s project ‘Natura Naturata’ played an important role in discovering the potential of art and design in the realisation of how this message can be transferred to the students. To read more about her project please visit https://intuitivestudio.cargo.site/NATURA-NATURATA

Preparing for the Workshop. Placing objects as a tool to realise the cyanotype prints.

Students from all age groups came to attend. We all sat in the outer circle of the objects. We started the workshop by introducing our artistic practices, and left the students with a question: How does the sun support you in your daily life? What does the sun mean to you? 

The sun means different things to different people. It rises and sets every day, nourishing life on Planet Earth. 

After the sharing, they were asked to pick and choose objects which reminded them of the Sun to expose them to the sunlight.

We introduced them to the Cyanotype printing technique. Information on Cyanotype : https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/cyanotype-photography “Cyanotype photography is a camera-less technique that involves laying an object on paper coated with a solution of iron salts before exposing it to UV light and washing with water to create stunning white and Prussian blue images.”

After choosing objects, we sat in a circle again. This time to share why we chose the object we did. How does it relate to the sun? And what part did the sun play in creating this object? 

Closely, looking at each object and its origin. It was impossible to not link it to the sun. For example, a wooden object comes from a tree, and without the sun the tree wouldn’t grow. All life is sustained through the power of the sun. 

After talking and sharing about the sun for almost two hours, we went forward to washing the prints with water. As water rinses the cyanotype ink, the object exposed starts to show itself more clearly.

Result of the workshop: everyone’s prints are ready to dry and will be ready in a day to be taken home and carry the learning of the sunlight. 

We hope, through the journey of cyanotype print-making, the students experientially and playfully observe the interconnectedness of all life. Let’s celebrate this interconnectedness and not forget what empowers us and all around. 

We are grateful to the Sun who helped us create a moment of joy, a moment of learning and a moment of connectedness. 

Thank you!