Topolski Century is a small under-the-brige-like gallery at Southbank. Feliks Topolski is the god of this small temple. Coming inside one feels like being inside the chap's head (the work is the author's memoir): expressionist paintings, surreal visions, vivid colours contrast the dark corners and that all forms a cerebral labyrinth. As a traveller, political commentator and reporter-draughtsman Topolski combined the historical/objective facts with his memory/subjective medium. In fact memory works really close with imagination. The visions then carry the onirical heaviness and randomness.
As a draughtsman Topolski would never go out without his sketchbook and pencil set.
This ended up with never ending piles of drawings, published later in a form of chronicle.
There were plenty reasons to draw everyday: cultural revolution in China, equality rights movements in America, independence of India, communist Warsaw, revolution of counter-culture. After Second World War was Topolski the one to document with his pencil a Nuremberg Trial.
Topolski was an eccentric persona (he painted himself in his Memoir as a lively gentlemen making out with two prostitutes) and his vast autobiography reveals his opinions, passions and quirkiness. The gallery is no longer a damp ( in order to preserve the artwork). Check up yourself, it is just 2 pounds to enter (1 concession, free on Mondays).
And hey, if you wanna find out how incredibly talented you are come for the life drawing workshops. It is a three hours session every Tuesday or Wednesday, just book the date - education@topolskicentury.org.uk.
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