Artwork
Mappa Mundi: Drawing to the Extent of the Body
Mappa Mundi: Drawing to the Extent of the Body is a drawing by David Connearn. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This is a drawing from 1984 by David Connearn. It’s a non-figurative work, meaning it doesn’t show a clear scene or object. It’s all about the method behind its making.
Connearn trained in London and has spent decades focusing just on drawing. He uses a strict approach that explores what drawing can be without trying to express feelings.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Mappa Mundi: Drawing to the Extent of the Body is a 1984 drawing by David Connearn, a London-trained artist known for his disciplined approach to non-figurative drawing.
Technique & Style
Connearn's method involves drawing successive lines, each replicating the one above with minor imperfections, using Rotring pens to minimize expressive qualities. The resulting work is influenced by factors like humidity and drawing speed.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing is non-representational, focusing on the process of its creation rather than depicting a specific scene or object.
History & Provenance
David Connearn, born in 1952, has exhibited widely and has work in the British Museum and British Council collections. He shifted from sculpture to drawing, developing his distinctive method over decades.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Connearn made large ink-on-paper drawings that trace the body’s reach across space.
