I’ve really been missing being able to go to museums and galleries for a fix of archaeology and culture. To look at ancient relics and sketch antiquities. So I was very pleased to discover London Drawing Group’s ‘LDG On Demand‘ lectures and live Zoom events. I first came across LDG when I was looking for life drawing sessions in London, and after attending (pre pandemic!) I signed up to their newsletters. Since lockdown, they’ve been creating a brilliant array of events across a wide range of topics and I recently watched my first lecture!
Sacred Feminine: The Goddess in Prehistory, was a fascinating look at the ‘Venus’ figurines (such as the Venus of Willendorf, pictured above) and sculptures that popup throughout early history and around the world. In the lecture, given by Luisa-Maria MacCormack, we learn about different theories and possibilities surrounding the creation of these beautiful pieces, as well as the message that we need to be more inclusive and open when forming archaeological and anthropological opinions.
But I will let you discover the lecture and learn directly from Luisa about this yourselves! I’m looking forward to checking out more of the LDG lectures soon, which include other interesting topics such as; surrealist women and female sexuality and the male gaze in art history.
I’ve always been fascinated by archaeology and find it an endless source of inspiration for my drawings and creative projects. If, like me, you’re missing museums and are looking for a little hit of ancient treasures, you might enjoy my ‘Ancient Things’ Pinterest board – a random selection of inspiring artefacts that I’ve pinned from my internet travels. You could even pair it with a bit of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider soundtrack if you’re really looking to get into the mood! Hopefully it won’t be too long before museums and galleries can open again and I’ll see you there when they do!
Disclaimer: I am very much a hobbyist in archaeology, my Pinterest boards and writings on this blog come from a place of artistic interest and as such are not likely to be historically accurate! You have been warned 😉
Images from Wikimedia Commons: 1. The Lady of Catal Hoyuk 2. The Venus of Willendorf 3. The Venus of Hohle Fels
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