CAMPAIGN REPORT: ON THE DRAWING CIRCLE IN DARMSTDT, GERMANY

Anonymous

CAMPAIGN REPORT: ON THE DRAWING CIRCLE IN DARMSTDT, GERMANY

In 2023, Paulina Stulin started the drawing circle in Darmstadt, a small town in Germany about 35 kilometers from Frankfurt. Paulina first came across the KSP (the German Campaign for a Socialist Party) on Facebook in 2020. She is an artist and also works with teenagers, creating, among other things, magazines together. Initially, she considered making that her KSP project, but decided against it, as she already does similar work professionally and felt it would be too much to take on in addition to her job.

Paulina is convinced that a project, with all the work and effort it entails, can only be sustained in the long term if it truly excites you. One should therefore choose something one is passionate about—not only to maintain one’s own motivation, but also to inspire others with that enthusiasm.

For her, the drawing circle works because it allows her to meet others and collaborate creatively with them on an equal footing—something she has no opportunity to do in her job as an after-school educator or in the solitary creative work she does at home. Paulina points out that the regular drawing practice in the circle also benefits her own artistic projects. At the moment, she has no one to share the coordination with, but there are a few people who might take over if she is away.

KSP members meet in various venues in Frankfurt to review how projects are going, discuss how they might connect, and welcome newcomers. Two weeks ago, Paulina organized the first KSP meeting in Darmstadt which the KSP advertised to other leftists in the town. A few people came, but only existing KSP members and one new interested person. Paulina also made a video about the drawing circle and posted it on Instagram; here is the translated text:

“Hello, my name is Paulina. I’m a comic artist, podcaster, educator, and a member of the Campaign for a Socialist Party. I became aware of the KSP in 2020 and was immediately drawn to the idea of engaging in political practice primarily through forms of civil society activism—activism that has a tangible impact on people’s lives, especially beyond traditional leftist bubbles, and that enriches their everyday experience in concrete ways.

This inspired me to launch my own campaign project: the people’s drawing circle.

The Zeichenzirkel takes place every first Sunday of the month from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Oetinger Villa cultural center in Darmstadt. It’s open to everyone and offers a free opportunity to learn how to draw people.

After coming up with the idea in early 2023, I approached the plenary of the Oetinger Villa to ask if we could use their space. I was thrilled when they approved the request—and even more so when they agreed to sponsor our event with 50 euros a month, which we use to pay our life models.

I was very nervous before the first session, afraid no one would show up and that the whole thing might be a silly idea. But miraculously, everything went really well. Everyone was enthusiastic, and I received a lot of encouraging feedback.

To give you a better idea of how our sessions are structured: I act as a sort of Master of Ceremony—welcoming the participants, introducing the model, giving instructions, and timing the 10-minute poses. The drawing takes place in concentrated silence, where you only hear the scratching of pencils, the occasional sigh, and the sound of pencils dropping to the floor.

After one hour, we take a 10-minute break during which anyone who wants to can lay their drawings on the floor so we can admire each other’s work. Then we continue for another hour, and I end the session with a short farewell and a request to send me scans or photos of the drawings so I can publish them online.

Many participants stick around afterwards to chat. Chairs are pushed together and small groups form that often go out for food or drinks together.

In addition to the life drawing sessions, we also host events where we model for each other for 10 minutes at a time, fully clothed. Partly, this is out of necessity—we have limited financial means to compensate the hard work of professional models—but these sessions also have a unique quality I wouldn’t want to miss. There’s something special about forming a circle together for two hours, and an even more unique experience when participants step into the center themselves, shifting from observer to subject, being viewed from all angles. It’s an intimate setting that many need to muster courage for, and one that only works because of the respectful and trusting atmosphere we’ve cultivated.

Now, some of you might be wondering: that’s all very nice, but what does any of this have to do with building a socialist party?

At first glance, maybe not much. And I want to emphasize that the Zeichenzirkel definitely fulfills a different political function than, say, the KSP’s tenant union, which is about building collective power to stand up to corporations like Vonovia and defend tenants’ interests. Or labor struggles, where there’s a clear antagonism between wage workers and their bosses, and tools like strikes are used to create leverage for better working conditions. That’s not the case with the drawing circle. We don’t have an opponent in that sense.

The Zeichenzirkel is a non-commercial educational initiative in the spirit of workers’ education associations. In addition to teaching drawing skills, it cultivates discipline and focus—qualities I consider socially relevant, especially as attention spans continue to shrink.

It also builds community, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and fulfilling a deeply human need: to gather regularly in a defined setting and dedicate oneself to something meaningful. That’s why I’m especially happy that our sessions take place on Sundays, offering a kind of secular alternative to church.

Especially after the pandemic, which greatly accelerated social deprivation, and in a time when people increasingly speak of an “epidemic of loneliness,” I believe it’s more important than ever to create spaces where people can come together informally and work toward a shared goal—something that expands horizons and nurtures the soul.

I felt reaffirmed in this belief when I heard from Max from the tenants’ union about how difficult it is for many tenants to even strike up a conversation with their neighbors to organize around shared issues. Many people are simply not used to being physically around others anymore. I noticed the same thing in my own anxiety levels—especially at the beginning of the Zeichenzirkel.

I also found it striking that a member of the tenants’ union in LA emphasized how important BBQs and block parties are in their political practice.

Considering that a central goal of KSP practice is to train ourselves to become socialists, I can say that in the year since the drawing circle began, I’ve learned a great deal and my life has changed for the better.

I’ve made many new connections and learned how to manage my time and energy to keep the sessions, online presence, and communication running consistently—all while solving the countless small problems that inevitably arise when people come together.

To expand our reach, we occasionally organize Zeichenzirkel sessions in other locations and collaborate with other grassroots cultural institutions. My long-term vision is for the Zeichenzirkel to grow into a cultural network in Darmstadt, the Rhine-Main region, and hopefully far beyond.

We generally don’t talk about politics in the drawing circle, and I’ve only ever mentioned the KSP when asked how I came to do this. The aim of this project is not to agitate people through political conversations. Rather, I see it as my role to provide a platform for building stable connections—connections that are essential for broader social organization. And just as importantly: to inspire fellow leftists through a living example—to take initiative and redirect their energy away from protests or appeals to the state, and instead create sustainable offerings that address people’s material, social, and cultural needs.

If you live in the Darmstadt area and would like to join us, you are warmly invited! We announce upcoming sessions via our Instagram page and Telegram channel “Zeichenzirkel Darmstadt.”

And maybe you’d like to start your own circle in your city—where people draw, play, do sports, or whatever it is you love to do. Or you might check out the KSP’s tenant union or tutoring initiative and get involved there.

I definitely recommend it!”

Cheers,

Paulina

Interview portions conducted by John Hoggett