Wellcome Collection kicks off The Big Draw

The Big Draw 2008, a national month-long celebration of drawing, kicks off today with an exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London.

Drawing on Life features cartoonist Steven Appleby illustrating to the music of Nathan Lee, who will beatbox through a flute while wired up to a heart monitor.

Animators and illustrators, including Ben Ashton, Tessa Garland and Finlay Taylor, will collaborate with neurologists and geneticists at the Wellcome Collection to design more than 40 interactive experiences.

Visitors will be invited to create ‘body maps’, ultraviolet mobiles and slogans about body issues. Meanwhile, science historian Professor Arthur Miller is to compare the thought processes of artists and scientists.

The weekend heralds the start of a month of more than 1000 Big Draw events taking place across the UK.

From the 10-18 October, The Big Draw takes up residence in London’s St Pancras Station, where Paul Day, creator of the station’s centrepiece statue The Meeting Place, will lead sculpture workshops.

On 11 October, national Big Draw day, the architect who managed St Pancras’ recent redevelopment, Alistair Lansley, will share his view of the station as walk-and-draw tours take place.

Drawing on Life takes place at the Wellcome Collection and University College London from 26-28 September.

The Big Draw continues until 31 October.

For more information, visit www.thebigdraw.org and www.campaignfordrawing.org.