This September Carlos will be teaching a 2-day automata workshop at Higher Spargo School of Art - guiding participants through the process of designing and making carved wooden figures that move using wire mechanisms.

It’s a hands-on, creative weekend, open to anyone curious about combining storytelling, sculpture and movement.

Zapata’s own journey into making automata started in the 90s, when he was making small sculptures at home in his spare time and a chance meeting at Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Covent Garden led him into the world of kinetic art.

Since then, Zapata has been making automata professionally for over 25 years - exhibiting internationally, and building work inspired by folk art, political themes, and his Colombian heritage. Now, living and working in Cornwall, Zapata continues to make one-of-a-kind automata pieces.

In this workshop, he’ll share the techniques he has honed over the past two decades and provide guidance to help you create your own moving masterpiece.

Videographer: Sophie May

Writer: Muirne MacKinlay MacLeod