Drawing Performatively
Tracing Out
Tracing Out
Tracing Out
Works on paper
75 x 75 cm. Charcoal on paper.
75 x 75 cm. Charcoal on paper.
150 x 150 cm. Charcoal on paper.
75 x 75 cm. Charcoal on paper.
Black Field: Feet Drawings Series (2024-2025)
The performative drawings in this series are made by drawing doodles with both hands using compressed charcoal sticks, and then spreading the material across the paper turning the lines into black fields. Both feet are used for this task, exploring the range of possible movements and drags, and occasionally making nods to dance steps. In the final phase of the process, the doodles are recovered on a top layer.
Please contact L Contemporary to enquire about these works.
150 x150 cm. Graphite on paper.
150 x150 cm. Graphite and charcoal on paper.
150 x 150 cm. Graphite on paper.
150 x150 cm. Graphite on paper.
Tracing Out Series (2018-2023)
This series explores how the dichotomies of presence/absence and trace/tracker operate in performative drawing. The artist starts by using a square format of 1.5m x1.5m, where her body comfortably fits in. She then performs repetitive and systematic movement routines, using both hands or her feet to trace her movements directly onto the paper with graphite or charcoal. This methodology generates beautiful abstract patters derived from the symmetry of her body and movements. The resulting images encourage the viewer to track her traces and imagine her body performing on the paper by ‘reading’ the drawing.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
Steps (2022)
'Steps' is a performative drawing made by leaving graphite and casein footprints as the artists walked along the paper, laid horizontally. The resulting drawing (30 x 1800 cm) is then installed hanging from the ceiling, resambling a waterfall in which footprints unnervingly go up.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
View of the work exhibited at Centro de Arte La Regenta (2023). Photo by Rafael Arocha.
10000 Gestures (2022)
Inspired by the reading of Alfred Gell's text 'On Ornamental Art', the work investigates the repetitive obsession of motifs, as well as the tension between the will to repeat and the impossibility of repetition. Each drawing is made up of 100 repetitions of the same movement. The juxtaposition of lines, accumulating a series of small errors, ultimately forms what resembles a precise calligraphic stroke. Inquiring into the realm of the symbolic, the whole piece is reminiscent of a sort of vocabulary or alphabet of expressive gestures. The series includes 100 drawings, of 30 x 30 cm. each.
40 x 40 cm.
40 x 40 cm.
39 x 73 cm.
40 x 40 cm.
Devoulé (2022)
This series consists of 12 small sized performative drawings. They are made by performing deboulé movements on pieces of paper. and tracing them with graphite powder. The measurements range from 30 x 30 cm to 77 x 52 cm.
30 x 30 cm.
20 x 20 cm.
48 x 38 cm.
30 x 30 cm.
Smashed Bouquets (2022)
This series consists of 12 small sized performative drawings. They are made by smashing a sticky mixture of graphite against the paper on the wall. The violent action of throwing and hitting the wall contrasts with the beautiful image it generates, which recalls a flower bouquet. The measurements range from 20 x 20 cm to 51 x 28 cm.
Concertina Book Series (2018-2019)
In this series M.Lohrum explores the production of performative drawings in a smaller size. She spreads the book on a flat surface and works performatively along the paper by tracing repetitive gestures as she moves forward. These works can be displayed in many different ways, they can be gone through as a regular book or they can be spread and refolded into tridimentional objects, offering an infinite number of compositions and display possibilities.
Feet Drawings (2018)
In this series of drawings M.Lohrum investigates the potential and limitations of drawing using only her feet. These drawings are based on compositions made up of lines, drawn by dragging graphite sticks with the feet. The measurements range from 150 x 100 cm to 75 x 50 cm.
Medium: Graphite and ink on paper Size: 1,5 x 3 m. Description: Drawing from memory, wearing a sleeping mask and using only left hand.
Medium: Graphite and ink on paper Size: 1,5 x 3 m. Description: Drawing from the memory, wearing a sleeping mask and using only left hand.
Medium: Graphite and ink on paper Size: 1,5 x 10 m. Description: The making of this drawing was devided in two stages. During the first one the artist worked on the background and the outlines of the figures with her feet with the paper laid on the floor. During the second stage she placed the band of paper on the wall, to then worked on the shades and textures by having her back to the wall and using a mirror in order to look at the drawing indirectly and in a fragmented way.
Medium: Graphite and ink on paper Size: 1,5 x 3 m. Description: Drawing from memory, wearing a sleeping mask and using only left hand.
Shadows (2016 - 2017)
These works were the first created by the artist in the field of performative drawing. The series includes drawings based on observations of her own moving image works, which were based on shadow figures, but using performative strategies in their making, such as drawing from memory, with her left hand, blindfolded, or using her feet. The format is large, ranging from 150 x 300 cm. to 150 x 1000 cm., and the techniques are varied (the exact measurements and technique are indicated in the image of each drawing).