Discovering Sven

It's always fascinating to hear fresh ideas about Sven Berlin from people who have recently discovered his life and work. In Ashburton, Devon, a delightful gallery on the edge of Dartmoor, Field System, has hosted a talk on Sven by the very engaging writer and painter Dr Martin Shaw (see link below).

Helga washing up. 1941. Sven Berlin

Coincidentally, in 1941 Sven, with his wife Helga, retreated to Ashburton as a conscientious objector in a community set up by the pacifist Deryck Bazalgette. Initially he was collecting and delivering coal locally, before tearing muscles in his back, and then worked in the Elizabethan walled kitchen garden of nearby Greylands School. It was in this commune he would meet the artists Max Chapman and his companion Oswell Blakeston, both of whom became subjects for Sven's drawing.

We are sharing the links to the video of Martin's talk (which is in two parts) with the kind permission of Field System. https://fieldsystem.co.uk/videos