OPEN House: Bijan Amini-Alavijeh
Thursday 29 October, 6-8pm
Thursday 12 November, 6 – 8.30pm
Please note this is a two-part workshop. By purchasing 1 ticket you will be booked on for both sessions. This event is free for Fruit Factory Guild Members
Join artist Bijan Amini-Alavijeh for a two-part workshop exploring light, shadow, nature and space through drawing, collage and sculpture.
Across the two sessions, participants will explore geometry, movement, form and contrasting materials, beginning with a series of atmospheric drawings before developing these ideas into sculptural forms. Working individually and together, the workshops will play with light, refraction and shadow, gradually transforming the gallery space into an installation.
No prior drawing or making experience is needed. The sessions will offer space to experiment freely with materials, techniques, and ideas.
Session One: Drawing with Light and Space
Thursday 29 October 6-8pm
The first session focuses on drawing as an instigator for making and for the sculptural work developed in the second workshop.
Taking influence from light, shadow, and nature, participants will use geometry to create layered, atmospheric landscapes. Through mixed-media drawing and collage, we will explore movement, form, space, and contrasting materials and surfaces.
Working with charcoal, graphite, tissue paper, foil and geometric drawing techniques, participants will learn about balance, composition and framing while having space to explore their own approaches and developments.
The drawings made during this session will become the starting point for the sculptural workshop in Session Two.
No prior drawing skills are needed.
Session Two: Sculpting Light and Shadow
Thursday 12 November 6 – 8.30pm
Building on the drawings and ideas developed during the first session, this workshop moves from the page into three-dimensional space.
Participants will explore materials through cutting, manipulating, layering and transparency, playing with light, refractions, and shadows to create sculptural forms.
Using materials including wire, tracing paper, foil and cardboard alongside handheld torches and projections, we will experiment with moving forms and shadows to create a sculptural still life. Together, these individual experiments will begin to transform the gallery into an installation of light, form and space.
About Bijan Amini-Alavijeh
Amini-Alavijeh creates a sense of discovery through encounters with nature, abstracting fragments of his observations. Limited to a single form, light and shadow are explored through a series of works sensitive to weight, volume and space.
Repeated forms become clustered and layered, creating movement that can resemble harsh winds or refracted light. The form currently at the centre of Amini-Alavijeh’s work is the Mandorla, derived from sacred geometry used within medieval art and architecture: an arch, a frame, an opening, and the overlapping of two circles.
The form contrasts soft and hard, continually suggesting alternative directions and resembling forms that are both spiritual and natural. This limitation avoids complexities of line and form, simplifying observations and encouraging slow looking.
Developing from drawing into sculpture, Amini-Alavijeh’s processes and materials follow a similar rhythm, allowing spontaneity and intuition to play a key role.
Recent exhibitions include Something Soft Suspends, GLOAM Gallery, Sheffield (2026); Sharp Edges, Threshold Gallery, Leeds (2025); and a glimmer, The Art House, Wakefield (2024). Amini-Alavijeh was a YSI Sculpture Network artist in 2022 and a member of the PANIC! Steering Group at The Tetley from 2021–2022. In 2019, Amini-Alavijeh was an Engagement Artist with Yorkshire Sculpture International, partnering with the Henry Moore Institute and Meeting Point Leeds.
Accessibility
Is Humber Street Gallery wheelchair accessible?
Yes. You can access every part of the gallery without steps. The entrance is level with the street, and there’s a lift to all floors, including the rooftop.
Do you have accessible toilets?
Yes. We have one all-gender accessible toilet on the ground floor with grab rails and emergency pull cords.
Can I bring my assistance dog?
Absolutely. We welcome guide dogs, hearing dogs and other trained assistance animals throughout the building.
Do you provide large print or accessible exhibition guides?
Yes. We offer large print as standard and Dyslexia-friendly versions of exhibition texts. You can pick them up in the gallery or download them from the exhibition pages of our website.
Is there somewhere quiet I can go if I need a break?
We know the gallery can sometimes feel busy or overwhelming. Ask a member of staff and we’ll help you find a quieter space to take a moment.
Do you offer sensory-friendly experiences?
Some exhibitions include sensory content and we have regular quiet hours. We also have ear defenders available to borrow at the front desk. If you need anything specific, get in touch before your visit. You can find details of our noisy and quiet hours at the top of this page.
Is there Blue Badge parking nearby?
Yes. There are Blue Badge parking bays on Humber Street and surrounding roads, just a short distance from the gallery.
Are your events and workshops accessible?
We aim to make all events as accessible as possible. Access details vary depending on the activity, so check individual listings or contact us with any questions.
What if I have an access need that’s not listed here?
We’re happy to chat and find ways to support your visit. You can call us, email us or drop in for a conversation.
