Wed Sep 18 15:36:46 UTC 2024: ## TV Legend David Dimbleby and His Artist Daughter Explore “The Unspeakable” Through Drawings
**Eastbourne, UK** – Renowned broadcaster David Dimbleby, the voice of countless historic moments in British history, is venturing into the world of art with a new exhibition, “Drawing the Unspeakable,” co-curated with his artist daughter Liza. The exhibition, opening at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne on October 5th, features over 200 works exploring themes of war, trauma, displacement, and loss – all conveyed through the expressive power of drawing.
The exhibition’s genesis lies in the unique connection Dimbleby and his daughter forged during the pandemic lockdown. Instead of letters, they exchanged drawings, finding a powerful new language to express their shared anxieties and fears. The exhibition celebrates the immediacy and depth of drawing as a means of communication that surpasses words, particularly in times of profound hardship.
“Drawing can say things that obvious reporting and pictures can’t,” Dimbleby explains, highlighting the exhibition’s focus on the “unspeakable” experiences of war, torture, and death. He cites a charcoal drawing by Peter de Francia as a powerful example, depicting a chilling scene of brutality that encapsulates the “horror and mayhem of our times.”
Liza, a lecturer in art schools and a teacher at the Royal Drawing School, shares her father’s passion for the transformative power of drawing. She emphasizes the importance of rediscovering the childlike vision, the inherent ability to see before processing language.
The exhibition features works from a diverse range of artists, including David Bomberg, Emma Talbot, Tracey Emin, and Louise Bourgeois, as well as drawings by refugees in France, which poignantly document their traumatic journeys.
The exhibition also marks the end of Dimbleby’s 10-year tenure as chair of the Towner Gallery, a period he describes as a “refreshing change” from the world of broadcasting. Reflecting on the future of the BBC, Dimbleby expresses concern about the corporation’s dwindling budget and the constant pressure from streaming services. He advocates for a full “reset,” prioritizing the BBC’s core functions: news, politics, and the arts.
“Drawing the Unspeakable” offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of human experience through the lens of drawing, a medium that transcends language and delves into the depths of the human condition.
First Piper 