Workshop: sand drawing with Erik van Lieshout

Traditional sand drawing was used by the working class in the East of the Netherlands as a way to decorate mud or loam floors and imitate the carpets they could not afford. On special occasions these drawings decorated the living space, while simultaneously revealing power structures within the community.

Since 2023, Erik van Lieshout has worked with traditional East Dutch sand-drawing patterns, incorporating text and Mondrianesque lines. In his exhibition at Annet Gelink Gallery, he presents, among other works, mortar tiles carrying solidified sand drawings.

On Saturday 21 November, Erik van Lieshout will give a sand drawing workshop for all ages, inspired by the East Brabant tradition, bringing the countryside into the centre of Amsterdam.