Babette Semmer

In collaboration with the centre for mathematics at Lund University and Modellregion Industriemathematik Bremen (MOIN), we will create a super-heroe universe together, based on mathematical concepts. Our aim is to lower the threshold to learn mathematics both for children and adults, but also, not less important, for the mathematicians to get acquainted with the art of illustration. At the beginning of the semester Babette Semmer will explore with you the ways in which pose, gesture and facial expression of a character transports emotion. We will analyse many art historical examples and practice capturing the essence of different feelings. Acting and embodying an emotional state can help us feel how a character might hold themselves, in order to better capture it in drawing. We will serve each other as live models, use mirrors and examples from books, films and photographs as source material, as well as our imagination and memory. In addition we will practice reducing and freeing up our mark-making, so that our drawing language may reach a state of being both lose and precise at the same time - because this is where the magic of depiction happens: when a flick of the brush reads as a raised eyebrow, a dot of graphite as a frown. After the introduction a two day’s workshop with will follow were we, guided by Kristina Juter (professor in mathematical didactics) and Magnus Aspenberg (associate professor in dynamic systems) and Adam Nilsson (cognitive semiotician and coordinator) approach mathematics from the illustration perspective. In the rest of Block A we will practice the basics of character design, through a series of different exercises focusing on both the characters themselves and their environment.