The Meditation of Drawing at Manchester Cathedral

Katie Evans, Exhibitions Editor

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The Meditation of Drawing

Manchester Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter
10 September-22 October 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

The Meditation of Drawing
Rachel Arif, Aldeburgh IV, chalk and charcoal on paper.
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Manchester Academy of Fine Arts presents The Meditation of Drawing, an exhibition on drawing as a form of reflection, hosted in the beautiful Manchester Cathedral.

Formed in 1858, MAFA (Manchester Academy of Fine Arts) is an artist-led organisation with over a hundred members, representing some of the region’s most talented artists. 

Inspired by Henri Cartier-Bresson’s quote “Photography is an immediate reaction; drawing is a meditation”, the exhibition presents drawing as a means of reflection – what it is to slow down in modern life. It’s fitting, then, that it’s held in the Cathedral, a place of contemplation.  In drawing a subject, either from life or memory, the artists have engaged with the present, capturing the quirks and miss-able details of the everyday, and are encouraging us, too, to linger a little longer over the curious shape or line of an ordinary object. 

Drawing, as one of the most instinctive forms of communication, has the power to describe, record and explore forms, both real and imaginary. Responding to the exhibition, the public will be invited to join the artists in exploring these concepts by drawing the surroundings around them.

What's on at Manchester Cathedral

Where to go near The Meditation of Drawing at Manchester Cathedral

Manchester
Event venue
Festa Italiana

The 2022 Festa Italiana was a roaring success, with great food options and captivating live music performances throughout the weekend.

Cathedral Gardens
Cathedral Quarter
Park
Cathedral Gardens

Cathedral Gardens is a partially lawned public space in Manchester city centre, located between Manchester Cathedral and the National Football Museum.

Manchester
Restaurant
The Cosy Club

Elegant and welcoming restaurant and bar in the Corn Exchange, with an attractive domed ceiling and plenty of original features like the staircase and tiles.

Manchester
Music venue
The Stoller Hall

The baby in the family of Manchester’s concert halls, The Stoller Hall greatly enhances the city’s already enviable live music provision.

Proper Tea Cathedral Quarter Mancheste
Cathedral Quarter
Café or Coffee Shop
Proper Tea

Proper Tea sits opposite Manchester Cathedral, serving up artisanal teas (with instructions on how long to leave them brewing), sandwiches, soups and excellent cake.

Manchester
Restaurant
Kitchen In An Arch

An offshoot from the much-loved Umezushi, this specialist deli is a one-stop-shop for all your sushi making needs, and also hosts occasional workshops to improve your culinary skills.

The National Football Museum Manchester
Manchester
Museum
National Football Museum

The National Football Museum is now open to the public, ready to show off its impressive array of football-related exhibits and activities.

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