Tuesday, 15th

19.00 BST

Miracles and Magic in Old Norse Viking Sagas and Mythology

Norse magic  was a mystical practice primarily performed by women. These practitioners held a complex and often contradictory place in society, both feared and respected. In times of need, their personal magic could be transformed into public rituals for the community. Seiðr (Norse magic) encompassed a range of practices, including fortune-telling, shapeshifting, and interpreting omens. Warmest of welcome to the lecture where we travel back in time to an era where magic was a central part of society and everyday life. 

Wednesday, 16th

18.00 BST

Mystery, Miracles and Magic: the work by the artist M.C.Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher’s exploration of pattern, space and surrealist viewpoints create optical illusions where one sees reality change into the abstract in a way that both makes sense and does not at all! His graphical works play with and make fun of the age-old aim by artists to create three dimensional images in a two dimensional medium. This lecture will reveal more about the artist that started off creating realist works, but ended up producing mind bending tessellations loved by Mick Jagger and Stanley Kubrick.

Monday, 21st

19.00 BST

Japanese Calligraphy: ‘miracle’

We are excited to invite you to our Japanese Calligraphy workshop, where we will explore the art of brush and ink alongside the profound concept of ‘Kiseki’ (奇跡), meaning ‘miracle.’ In Japanese culture, Kiseki represents the extraordinary, the unexpected moments of beauty and transformation that occur in life. Through the fluid strokes of calligraphy, participants will learn how each mark on the paper can reflect this sense of miracle, capturing the essence of presence and mindfulness.

Tuesday, 22nd

19.00 BST

Healing the Japanese Way: Exploring Reiki, Acupuncture, and More

We are thrilled to announce a new lecture on traditional Japanese energy healing practices. You’ll learn about Reiki, a form of energy healing that channels life force energy; acupuncture, a practice that uses fine needles to stimulate energy flow; shiatsu, a massage technique that applies pressure to key points on the body to enhance well-being; kampo, Japan’s herbal medicine system that tailors remedies to individual needs, and moxibustion, a practice that involves burning herbs near the skin to boost energy and alleviate pain.

Wednesday, 23rd

18.30 BST

Magic and Mystery in Peter Doig’s Art

Peter Doig’s art is a mesmerising exploration of dreams and magic, where reality and imagination seamlessly intertwine. His paintings often evoke a sense of otherworldliness, drawing viewers into dreamlike landscapes that blur the boundaries between the tangible and the ethereal. Doig’s use of vivid, almost surreal colours and layered textures creates scenes that feel both familiar and alien and invites us to navigate the liminal space between the real and the fantastical, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Monday, 28th

19.00 BST

Japanese Calligraphy: ‘advance celebration’

Rooted in the idea of celebrating success before it happens, Yoshuku is a powerful mindset that fosters positive outcomes through visualisation and joyful anticipation. In this workshop, you will experience how each stroke of the brush becomes an expression of your inner celebration and intention for the future. Whether you’re new to calligraphy or more experienced, this session offers a unique opportunity to blend artistic practice with a meaningful ritual of celebrating future achievements in advance.

Wednesday, 30th

18.00 BST

Witches’ Bodies in art

Imagine a witch. What does she look like? Is she a hag with sagging breasts and a wart on her chin? Is she a seductive siren with glowing eyes? Each culture has their own conception of a witch, the untameable, powerful woman. Witches were not always evil, many were seen as essential gateways to the spirit world; many times they were idealised women, their bodies were socially beautiful, both creative and destructive. This talk uses the term ‘witch’ broadly, looking at art of a wide range of witches’ bodies to explore culture’s ideals of beauty.

Thursday, 31st

19.00 BST

The Power in the Panels: An Exploration of Tarot and Comic Books

There is a unique relationship between comic books and Tarot, as they both embody sequential storytelling using symbolic art and natural language. In this lecture we will take sequences from specific comic books and peel back the layers to better understand the intention of the creative team. By understanding this form of sequential storytelling, we will then apply this same technique to different configurations of Tarot spreads. This unique method of storytelling will allow us to use the symbols and keys provided by Tarot to unlock stories not only in comic books, but also in our everyday lives.