NIRIN at Home: Hybrid Plant Exquisite Corpse Drawing

An ‘exquisite corpse’ is a drawing game developed by artists in the Surrealism movement. A drawing is passed around between a group of people, folding and hiding sections for others to complete, so that when unfolded produces a bizarre, unexpected and wacky artwork.

Paper
Pens, pencils, coloured markers or other drawing materials

1. For each player, start with your piece of paper in a vertical position and fold it equally three times, to create four horizontal drawing sections.
2. Using the fold lines as a guide, from top to bottom, each section will mark out the: leaves, branch, seed and root systems. (See image here for help.)
3. Everyone starts by drawing their version of a plant's root system. When finished, fold your paper over and pass your drawing onto the next person. Note: Before you fold your section to hide from everyone else, mark the edge of your drawing in the adjoining section (so that when unfolded the picture connects and makes sense.)
4. Continue this process until each person has drawn the seed, branch and leaves.
5. Unfold your drawings and compare the new garden of hybrid plants you've just created!

Enquiry Questions:
- What is the name of your new plant species?
- What climate does it grow in?
- What purpose is it used for? Can your plant be brewed to make tea? If you eat it, does it give you magical powers?

We’d love to see how you use these resources at home. Post your stories and photos with the hashtag #NIRINathome.

Want to learn more? Explore Andrew Rewald's installation Alchemy Garden at the National Art School.