Leicester Decorative and Fine Arts Society
A member of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies
Future Programme
Click on the listing below to go directly to that lecture, or scroll down to see them all.....
Exploring the Body: Antony Gormley and the New Face of Tradition -
The Mythologising of a Pharaoh: Akhenaten, deformed or divine? 23 May 2012
The Life and Times of the Sundial: A Perspective on Civilisation's Most Enduring
Timekeeper -
Punch and Judy: A subversive symbol from Commedia Del'Arte to the Present Day -
25 July 2012 Social evening, additional to the normal programme
Poets Painters and Private Lives in 19 Century Venice -
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I am sure you appreciate the excellent programme, superb lectures
and pleasant company enjoyed as a LDFAS member.
25 April 2012
Exploring the Body: Antony Gormley and the New Face of Tradition
Frank Woodgate
Antony Gormley studied archaeology, anthropology and the history of art at Trinity College, Cambridge. His art makes use of his expertise in these varied disciplines and is based on his own and other people's bodies. They can often be found in unusual locations such as the Australian desert, in the sea off the Liverpool coast and on the rooftops of London
Right: Another Place -
Click here to go to Antony Gormley’s web site
Click here to see a photo from the LDFAS trip to Crosby Beach
23 May 2012
The Mythologising of a Pharaoh: Akhenaten, deformed or divine?
Lucia Gahlin
Akhenaten (c1352 – c1336 BC) is probably the most controversial of all the Egyptian pharaohs. He made extraordinary changes to the religion and art, all the more striking when we consider how conventional the ancient Egyptians tended to be in these respects. He replaced the traditional polytheistic religion with the worship of one solar deity, and the art is unlike that of any other pharaoh’s reign. He chose to be represented in a most singular fashion. Did he really look like this? Or was his representation determined by ideology? I shall explore these questions and consider the mythologizing of a most unusual pharaoh – a mythologizing that began soon after his death and has continued through to the present day.
Right: Akhenaten in the Luxor Museum
27 June 2012
The Life and Times of the Sundial: A Perspective on Civilisation's Most Enduring Timekeeper
Kevin Karney
Since the dawn of civilisation, the Sun has been used by mankind to mark the passage
of the seasons and the time during the day. The lecture briefly charts the history
of sun dials from earliest times.
It punctuates that history with what poets and philosophers thought about time throughout the ages. The lecture looks at how the role of the sundial changed as the needs of society and science have progressed.
Perranzabuloe Millennium Sundial above Perranporth, Cornwall.
Since this shows local time, it's about 20 minutes behind GMT!
25.July 2012
Punch and Judy: A subversive symbol from Commedia Del'Arte to the Present Day
Bertie Pearce
Bertie Pearce returns! Our social evening.
Mr Punch – the most famous puppet character of all time. His comic irreverence gave “Punch” magazine its title. His anarchic vitality has inspired opera, ballet and punk rock and his enduring popularity has seen his likeness on goods ranging from Victorian silverware to computer video games. Appearing in England in 1662, Punch is descended from the Italian Clown Pulcinella of the 15th C Commedia Del’Arte tradition. Even today This Lord of Misrule uses his slapstick to dispense with oppressive authority, be it politicians, political Correctness or the devil, while proclaiming his notorious refrain; ‘That’s the way to do it!”
Bertie Pearce is a Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. He is also a
Professor of Punch and Judy. He inherited a fascination with conjuring from his maternal
Grandfather. With a BA(Hons) in Drama from Manchester University he went on to the
Ecole Internationale du Theatre Jaques Lecoq in Paris. He has performed all over
the world from The Magic Castle in Hollywood to the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz as well
as on Cruise ships from the U.K. and The States. He has also toured extensively as
a speaker sharing his passion for illusion, Victorian pastimes and Punch and Judy.
The society social evening is separate from the main programme of events and is charged separately too. Pre booking is essential.
Poets Painters and Private Lives in 19 Century Venice
Douglas Skeggs
As it slipped into obscurity Venice attracted artists, poets and writers like Monet, John Singer Sargent, Henry James, Thomas Mann and Ruskin. The lecture looks at the strange lives they led and the rich and varied succession of images they created that transformed the Venetian Republic into a romantic legend.
We are delighted to have another talk by Douglas Skeggs, I am sure those that attended his last talk on Velasquez in June 2010 will be looking forward to this lecture.
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