♥ Client: Dulwich Picture Gallery
♥ Collaboration: Rosalie Schweiker
♥ Year: 2019
♥ Location: London
The project began with a series of family art sessions. By observing how families moved through the activities and the gallery itself, Sahra and Rosalie gathered the insights that shaped the content and format of the publication. One session invited families to create life size self portraits inspired by the classical portraits on the walls. Painted, cut out and propped on easels, these were displayed among the grand historic paintings, a quiet but pointed statement about who belongs in a gallery. They also ran shadow puppet workshops and dressing-up portrait sessions, encouraging families to picture themselves within the gallery's historic setting.
The resulting publication took the form of long, ring-bound cards, designed as a companion for other families to use on their own visits. It opened with a hand-drawn welcome and a set of simple questions to ask in front of the artworks, from "What can you see?" to "What makes you think that?", inviting families to respond in their own words rather than look for a right answer. A circular viewfinder cutout helped focus on details in the paintings, and further cards suggested projects to continue at home, from painting portraits to making shadow puppets and folding origami inspired by the collection. Free tickets distributed locally were tucked inside, addressing the financial barriers that keep many families away.
Printed using Risograph at Rabbits Road Press, "Making an Impression" was made to be shared between children and their parents or guardians, turning a visit into something done together. The intention throughout was to open up a traditionally formal space, so that families who are currently underrepresented could feel they had every right to enjoy it.