Apollo Project: Artistic Licence Activity

Apollo Project is a new way to experience the Gallery, designed by young people for young people! 

Try out our latest activity idea, inspired by Jack B. Yeats's iconic painting.

Even when artists are inspired by real-life events, they will often use artistic licence to make their depictions of the events more interesting or beautiful, or relevant to a contemporary audience. They might relocate the story to a different geographic location, or even to a different time.

Why not use artistic licence to reimagine a work from the Gallery's collection? You can browse through thousands of artworks in our online collection to find your inspiration.

Reimagining the Liffey Swim

For this example, we've chosen to reimagine Jack B. Yeats's painting of the annual Liffey Swim race. He painted this work in 1923, but we're going to transplant the action to the future - to 2050!

Materials:

• A large sheet of paper (A3, if possible)
• A pencil
• A glue stick
• Markers, crayons, colouring pencils, or whatever you have to hand

Instructions:

1. Look at Yeats's Liffey Swim (above) and outline the key features of the composition on your paper: the crowds (including a self-portrait of Yeats; he's the bearded man with the brown hat), the buildings, the river and the swimmers competing in the race.
2. Now, let's imagine it's taking place in the year 2050! What clothes might people be wearing? Will the architecture look different? What type of transport will people be using? Let your imagination run riot!
3. Colour the image in with a nod to the original, but with your own twist!

Apollo Project is a new way to experience the Gallery, designed by young people for young people!

Connect with artists, designers, makers and creatives at our monthly events. Hear about their journeys and careers, and learn new skills. Network, ask questions, and be inspired to make art and creativity part of your life.

Creativity, education and wellbeing are at the heart of Apollo Project, with an emphasis on collaborating and partnering with young people to co-create vibrant and fun experiences in the Gallery.

Believe in your potential. Live a creative life. ART MAKES YOU!

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