The Paradis Files – what inspires you?

 

Maria Theresia von Paradis inspired the team at Graeae and now we want to know what inspires you? It could be a place, a person or even yourself. Send us your inspirations to the Von Paradis Exhibition and have your work displayed online.

What do you have to do?

On an A4 piece of paper tell us about your inspiration, you can draw a picture, write a poem or find any other way to fill page. Once you’re happy with your final image record a small description explaining what your image looks like at why it’s special to you. Save a photo of your picture and your audio description and then send them to rebecca@graeae.org. Can’t record your description? Then send us a written paragraph with the same information and we’ll do it for you. Don’t forget to send your name, where you’re from and any social media handles so we can tag you online.

More about the Paradis Files which toured the UK this spring.

An extraordinary blind musician. A family hell-bent on a cure.

In the glittering salons of 18th-century Vienna, Maria-Theresia von Paradis is a star. Pianist, composer, touring musician; this pupil of Salieri and friend (and alleged lover) of Mozart has captivated Europe with her own sensational talent. They call her The Blind Enchantress.

Yet behind this dazzling success story there are darker forces at work. Some of those closest to Maria-Theresia are looking to profit from her blindness. Others are looking to ‘cure’ her – whatever it takes.

A newly commissioned chamber opera, with music by Errollyn Wallen; Musical Director and Conductor, Andrea Brown and directed by Jenny Sealey. This opera will be performed by members of the BBC Concert Orchestra and together they will bring this extraordinary woman out of the shadows to reclaim her place in the spotlight of music history.

Your inspiration images

This image by Sophie Aslam shows a portrait of Ian Dury. In the centre of the image is a realistic portrait of Ian Dury, who is a white man, who is in his mid 30s in this picture with brown curly hair wearing a white T shirt and denim jacket. The background of the image is bright green with a bright pink border and stars made of pink and orange glittery paper. His name has been made in large cut out letters with Ian above the portrait and Dury underneath. Here is Sophie giving you her own description: so, my picture shows the lead singer of the Blockheads Ian Dury. The background is neon green with some neon pink. In the corners are some glittery orange and pink stars and in the centre is Ian Dury himself with his name all around him. I chose to draw him because he's my dad’s favourite artists and his album was the first record my dad ever bought.
Artist: Sophie Aslam. ‘I chose to draw him because he’s my dad’s favourite artists and his album was the first record my dad ever bought.’
This images by L Humphreys. In the middle of a white background are the words “may you shine” written in capital letters. Each letter is a different colour. Surrounding the words are a mixture of music notes and stars in many different colours. The artist chose to put stars in many different colours to represent all the different people within a community and although we may have a colour that is our favourite or represents a certain aspect of our personality we're all stars and we should shine together.
Artist: L Humphreys. The artist chose to put stars in many different colours to represent all the different people within a community and although we may have a colour that is our favourite or represents a certain aspect of our personality we’re all stars and we should shine together.
This image by Colette Creswell is on bright yellow paper. Across the paper are written “love peace and tranquilly” each word is in a different font and the words are written in red orange, black and green. There is a border around the image made up of orange semi circles. There are also music notes, stars and a large red heart in the image. The artist made this image because they need to remind themselves that in their life, they need love peace and tranquilly and also thought that this was a message that should go out to everyone.
Artist: Colette Cresswell. The artist made this image because they need to remind themselves that in their life, they need love peace and tranquilly and also thought that this was a message that should go out to everyone.

This image by Penny Benedetti is a poem and a picture combined. The picture is drawn on white paper. At the centre there is a simple line drawing of a woman with a smaller version of herself sat on her lap. The smaller woman is wearing a top made of gold sparkling paper. In the top left hand corner of the image there are the words “abuse” and “power”. There are printed images of flies and butterflies on the right hand side of the paper. These printed shapes are also on the poem. Here is penny reading the poem. It's not for me. It's not for me marriage, it’s not for me children, marriage hurts, children give you pain. It's not for me university, it's not for me learning, university will see my ignorance, learning tells you lies my father says. Ignorance like his racism lies, like where her baby came from when she was like my sister. Like flies around my head entering my soul leaving their grubby legacy. Then I found that marriage doesn't always hurt, children give you joy and university was for me. Learning released a hidden gift like a translucent blue butterfly settling on a golden dress and I discovered that ignorance flourishes everywhere and people who hurt continued to hurt others and I tried to make them see that it doesn't have to be like that and maybe some of them have changed a little abuse can stop at you and love doesn't have to hurt it can be like the butterfly and the golden dress.

Artist: Penny Benedetti
This piece is by Kathryn Greenwood. It is a mixture of an image and a poem. On the left hand side of a white background are large blue flowers made from blue paper with a yellow orange paper centre. There are small pink music notes surrounding the flowers. The piece has a title: The Forget me Not Choir, it is accompanied by the following poem: Please don't forget me when I'm gone, put on some music or sing a song. Let the music talk to your heart lift you up and feel great. I am with you in the music, I am with you in the heart. The artist chose to make this piece as The Forget me Not Choir is incredibly important to her. The Forget me Not Choir, is a choir that helps those the terminal illnesses socialise, sing and enjoy life.
Artist: Kathryn Greenwood. The artist chose to make this piece as The Forget me Not Choir is incredibly important to her. The Forget me Not Choir, is a choir that helps those the terminal illnesses socialise, sing and enjoy life.
This image is by Stephen Martin. It is drawn on a white piece of paper. At the centre of the paper are two large yellow flowers made from yellow paper with orange centres. They have leaves drawn below them in green pen. There is a butterfly and there is a ladybug drawn at the bottom with blue wisps to represent the sky and clouds. On the right hand side of the paper is a line drawing of a dog. The dog is white with a black ring around one of its eyes and a red collar. The artist chose to make this image as a portrait of their dog Bullseye who sadly passed away during lockdown. Bullseye I was incredibly important to the artist and will always be fondly remembered.
Artist: Stephen Martin. The artist chose to make this image as a portrait of their dog Bullseye who sadly passed away during lockdown. Bullseye I was incredibly important to the artist and will always be fondly remembered.