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Children in front of a gallery wall covered with hundreds of alien drawings, one pointing at a drawing.
  • An orange flame-shaped alien with one eye and a smile, surrounded by red marks.
  • A tall pink alien with a flower crown and one eye, standing on green ground among pink flowers and orange stars.
  • An alien with snake-like hair and a striped body covered in eyes, standing beside a tree.
  • A yellow alien with many eyes and red spots, next to a pink rocket.
  • A round alien split into a dark half and a yellow half, with horns, wings and a red leaf below it.
  • A black and white alien head with long antennae, beside the handwritten German words Wir kommen in Frieden.
  • A green segmented alien with large green eyes and a wide red smile.
  • A black keyhole-shaped figure with purple eyes, outlined in yellow.
  • A purple mushroom-shaped alien with red eyes, dangling yellow tentacles and a lightning bolt.
  • A tall yellow alien with one large blue eye and long arms, among small coloured dots.
  • A black ink alien with antennae and a top hat marked with a red cross, surrounded by yellow zigzag lines.
  • A blue alien with sunglasses and tentacle legs standing in a yellow field in front of houses.

The Most Realistic Alien Draw an alien. Make it realistic.

Two instructions. Many different answers.

A tall green alien drawn in dense crayon strokes, with one small eye and short arms.
Drawing from The Most Realistic AlienKodai N., 11Tokyo, Japan
  • A tall yellow alien with one large blue eye and long arms, among small coloured dots.
  • An alien with three green heads and spiky hair, an orange shirt and green trousers, holding a phone.
  • A pale green alien with one eye, red-tipped antennae and a fringed skirt.

The answers

Short instructions, many answers, made together and shown as art. The artwork is all the answers side by side. How the works work

  • A pen drawing of a pale alien head with large dark eyes and a small mouth, with the handwritten words The truth is out there at the bottom.
  • A pale green alien with three dark eyes and a red smile, surrounded by green spirals.
  • A small green alien wearing a yellow crown, drawn in the middle of a white page.
  • A round pink and brown alien head with mismatched eyes and a wide smile, on purple and blue legs.
  • An alien with three green heads and spiky hair, an orange shirt and green trousers, holding a phone.
  • A green alien with spiky antennae and a wide toothy grin, standing on a rock.
  • A green alien with antennae, one eye and fangs, wearing a striped dress.
  • A grey alien with a striped face, horns and bare pink legs, under two crescent moons.
  • A blue-headed alien with antennae and a yellow body, standing on orange and purple legs.
  • A robot-like alien with a yellow head, a yellow square body and pink wavy arms.
  • A green alien with many arms and a patterned head, standing on a blue planet beside a red post.
  • A grey alien head with a dark hole on top and a pink tail, drawn in pencil and crayon.
  • A pale green alien with one eye, red-tipped antennae and a fringed skirt.
  • A black shaggy alien with green antennae and a patterned body.
  • A long pink outlined alien with rows of circles, spiky jaws and a wheel.
  • A green alien with red eyes and many small eyes around its head, on a red striped background.
  • A green alien with yellow eyes on stalks, wearing a dark skirt, beside a small table with a pineapple.
  • An alien with a green face and a hand on its head, among waves, an airship and small figures.
  • A blue and yellow alien standing on a green planet, surrounded by stars and small houses.
  • A heart-shaped alien face with one star-shaped eye, above a striped body.
  • A small alien with antennae and purple wings, standing on a yellow and green planet.
  • A red one-eyed alien with cat ears, blue tentacles and a spring for a body.
  • A spotted alien flying above a mushroom-shaped building, over dense pencil scribbles.

From the workshops

  • Eight alien drawings arranged in a grid, each with a printed label underneath.
    Drawings
  • A child holding up an alien drawing in front of drawings pegged to a string.
    Goldmund Festival, Biesenthal, Germany
  • A bright room with children drawing at low white tables and alien drawings covering the back wall.
  • A child holding an alien drawing on a porch.
    Barú, Colombia
  • A young child holding a drawing of a face in front of a tiled wall.
  • A child holding a colourful alien drawing on a stone path.
  • A child holding an alien drawing in front of a wall of framed alien drawings.
  • Alien drawings pegged to a line outdoors while a child hangs another.
    Indonesia
  • A child holding up a drawing of a green alien at a table.
  • A pot of coloured pencils and scattered felt pens on a white table, with children drawing behind.
  • Children drawing outdoors on the ground under a large tree.
    Barú, Colombia
  • A painted alien with round eyes, beside a photograph of a child holding the painting.
    Drawings
  • A group of children and two adults holding up alien drawings in a classroom.
  • Two alien drawings side by side, one striped red and green, one tall and green, each with a printed label.
    Drawings
  • Two drawings side by side: an orange and red shape under coloured letters, and small green figures on a red hill.
    Drawings
  • Visitors looking at a wall of alien drawings in an exhibition.
    Exhibition view · Barcelona, Spain
  • A white gallery wall hung with hundreds of alien drawings in a tight grid.
    Installation view

Photographs from the workshops of The Most Realistic Alien.

  • A tall green alien drawn in dense crayon strokes, with one small eye and short arms.
  • A green segmented alien with large green eyes and a wide red smile.
  • A purple mushroom-shaped alien with red eyes, dangling yellow tentacles and a lightning bolt.

How it happened

The Most Realistic Alien began in Berlin in 2009 as a drawing competition: draw an alien, and the most realistic one wins.

The drawings were later hung together, so every answer to the same instruction could be seen side by side.

Workshops followed in many places, among them Spielraum Gallery in Berlin and Goldmund Festival in Biesenthal in August 2010, a German school in December 2011, Bogotá in 2011, the hills above Barcelona in February 2012 and a library in East Helsinki in February 2013.

The drawings are becoming a book. See the book in the making

Run it anywhere

This workshop is open. Anyone can run it, with children anywhere in the world. The kit has the instructions, what you need and how it goes.

Get the kit

Where it happened

Photos from CRE8's own Flickr albums.

Bogotá, Colombia

Photographs · 2011

  • Children at long green tables in a classroom, two adults standing by the blackboard. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A classroom seen from the back: children at green tables, a woman and a man at the blackboard. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • Two girls smiling at a green table, paper snowmen pinned to the wall behind them. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A woman in a grey shawl talking to children seated at their tables. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
All 12 photos from Bogotá, Colombia
  • A boy and a girl drawing side by side; her white shirt is covered in handwriting. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • Two boys in blue jackets, one in a red hood, looking at a sheet of paper on the table. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • Two girls bent close over one sheet, drawing with pencils. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A boy in a maroon school sweater sits behind a pile of coloured pencils. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A woman in a grey shawl stands among seated children, a pink poster on the wall. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A group of children and a man pose together, one girl holding up a sheet of paper. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A whole class sits on a red tiled floor with their arms raised. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.
  • A drawing of a figure standing on a green and blue Earth, a second figure below. Bogotá, Colombia, 2011.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Aliens landed in Bogotá”

Mexico

Photographs · 2011

  • Children drawing at wooden tables in a room with stone walls and a blackboard. Mexico, 2011.
  • A boy in a yellow sweater draws at a paint-stained wooden table. Mexico, 2011.
  • A girl in pink draws with an orange pencil at a wooden table. Mexico, 2011.
  • A girl holds up her pencil drawing of a round alien against a stone wall. Mexico, 2011.
All 12 photos from Mexico
  • A boy in yellow holds up his drawing of an alien with cat ears. Mexico, 2011.
  • A boy holds up a drawing of a green figure and a small creature in the sky. Mexico, 2011.
  • A boy holds up his drawing of a yellow alien with many legs. Mexico, 2011.
  • A girl holds up a pink sheet with a drawing of a green alien. Mexico, 2011.
  • A girl in an orange top sits at a wooden table with a blank sheet. Mexico, 2011.
  • A boy holds up a blue drawing of figures under a yellow sun. Mexico, 2011.
  • A girl looks down at her drawing of a brown alien with long arms. Mexico, 2011.
  • A girl holds up her drawing of a purple alien with orange legs. Mexico, 2011.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Alien in Mexico”

Germany

Photographs · 2011

  • A girl in a red jacket holds an alien drawing with smiling green face and stick limbs among other children at art tables. Germany, 2011.
  • Three children hold large drawings in front of their faces, each showing a different colourful alien design. Germany, 2011.
  • A boy in a black-and-white striped shirt holds a green alien drawing with antenna, classroom in background. Germany, 2011.
  • Two girls with red antenna headbands hold colourful alien drawings and smile at the camera. Germany, 2011.
All 12 photos from Germany
  • Five children with arms linked hold up various alien drawings, standing together in a school art room. Germany, 2011.
  • A girl bends over an art table drawing with watercolours and markers surrounded by supplies. Germany, 2011.
  • A girl in a red shirt concentrates on drawing at a shared table with paint palettes and brushes. Germany, 2011.
  • A girl in a navy-striped shirt holds an orange and pink alien drawing with round features. Germany, 2011.
  • A girl in pink and navy striped sweater holds a yellow-faced alien drawing with outstretched arms. Germany, 2011.
  • A boy holds a colourful stick-figure alien drawing with extended limbs and bright paint colours. Germany, 2011.
  • A large group of children hold up their alien drawings together. Germany, 2011.
  • A boy in brown holds an alien drawing with three teal heads and red body sections. Germany, 2011.

Flickr album: “Photostream”

Barú, Colombia

Photographs · 2011

  • A girl looking out from behind a red wooden post. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • Two small girls smiling close to the camera. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • Children sitting on the ground in a circle, one girl in a pink dress. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A girl in a pink dress walks along a path in front of a house with a thatched roof. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
All 12 photos from Barú, Colombia
  • A girl in a blue top watches a boy in orange drawing on the ground. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A child runs across a sandy playground between coloured climbing bars. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A girl on a sandy street holds up her drawing of an alien. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • Two girls hold up their alien drawings against a blue wooden wall. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A smiling boy in a red shirt gives a thumbs up next to another boy. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A boy holds up his striped alien drawing in front of a blue door. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A small girl with pink hair ties looks up, other children drawing around her. Barú, Colombia, 2011.
  • A crowd of children waves from the stone base of a huge tree. Barú, Colombia, 2011.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Alien in Baru, colombia”

Indonesia

Photographs · 2011, 2012

  • Girls sitting on a tiled floor, drawing on sheets spread around them. Indonesia, 2011.
  • Two girls and a woman sit on a porch floor with drawings and pens. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A girl in a yellow top reaches up to a painted sheet hanging on a wall. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A girl in a yellow dress holds up a painted round alien. Indonesia, 2011.
All 12 photos from Indonesia
  • A boy sits cross-legged against a wall, holding a drawing of a red egg-shaped alien. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A smiling girl holds up two sheets of small pink alien drawings. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A girl holds a painting of a blue alien with horns. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A boy sits against a wall with two colourful alien drawings on his knees. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A young woman holds up two drawings of aliens with big eyes. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A large group of children and adults on a porch, many holding drawings. Indonesia, 2011.
  • A drawing of a figure with three round eyes and a red mouth under a dark blue sky. Indonesia, 2012.
  • A drawing of blue-grey painted shapes: a figure with raised arms and three houses. Indonesia, 2012.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Alien in Indonesia”

Spain

Photographs · 2012

  • A small wooden hut with a tiled roof on a hillside covered in trees. Spain, 2012.
  • Children and adults drawing at a table with a red spotted cloth in a room with bookshelves. Spain, 2012.
  • A smiling man at a table with a red spotted cloth and a box of pens. Spain, 2012.
  • A boy holds up a drawing full of circles and patterns. Spain, 2012.
All 12 photos from Spain
  • A boy in a grey jacket holds his patterned drawing in front of him. Spain, 2012.
  • A girl in a purple jacket smiles, holding up her drawing. Spain, 2012.
  • Two small children, one holding a drawing of a pink figure, the other a small toy. Spain, 2012.
  • Three adults and two girls crowd together smiling at the camera. Spain, 2012.
  • A girl draws with a red pen, looking down at her paper. Spain, 2012.
  • Two girls hold up their drawings, one with orange dots and small figures. Spain, 2012.
  • A woman draws a blue circle with a red pen at a table. Spain, 2012.
  • Three small children draw at a white table in front of bookshelves. Spain, 2012.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Alien in Spain”

Brazil

Photographs · 2012

  • A terrace above the city with a walkway bridge and a hand-painted alien sign on the railing. Brazil, 2012.
  • Two girls laughing at a red table covered in paper, one holding up a sheet. Brazil, 2012.
  • Two boys drawing with felt-tip pens at a green table. Brazil, 2012.
  • Children drawing around a green table on a terrace, one boy in a striped shirt. Brazil, 2012.
All 12 photos from Brazil
  • Children drawing at a green table on a terrace, a woman standing behind them. Brazil, 2012.
  • Girls gathered at a table on a terrace, one reaching over to draw. Brazil, 2012.
  • A girl holds up two drawings of aliens on the terrace. Brazil, 2012.
  • Two girls hold up their alien drawings in front of a concrete wall. Brazil, 2012.
  • Drawings pegged on a line on the terrace, a boy standing behind them. Brazil, 2012.
  • A boy holds up a long orange drawing on the terrace, friends behind him. Brazil, 2012.
  • A woman in white talks with a group of children outside among brick houses. Brazil, 2012.
  • A big group of children and adults, a girl in front holding up a picture book. Brazil, 2012.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Alien in Brasil”

Rishikesh, India

Photographs · 2012

  • A white domed pavilion on a lawn, people sitting in its shade. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • Adults drawing together at tables set out on a lawn. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • A bearded man in a red shirt draws at a table with others around him. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • Rows of adults drawing at outdoor tables on a wide lawn. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
All 12 photos from Rishikesh, India
  • Close view of hands drawing with felt-tip pens at a dark table. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • A curly-haired man holds up a drawing of a bearded face. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • A bearded man holds up a drawing of a heart-shaped form with an eye. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • A woman in an orange scarf holds up a drawing of a green alien and a yellow sun. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • A woman in sunglasses holds up a small round drawing on a lawn. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • A line of adults walks in a row with hands on each other's shoulders. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • Drawings pegged on green lines across a garden, lit by low sun. Rishikesh, India, 2012.
  • Two drawings of strange faces pegged on a green line. Rishikesh, India, 2012.

Flickr album: “Most Realistic Alein in Rishikesh, India”

Also on record, in the journal: East Helsinki, Finland

Film

The Most Realistic Alien, new cut · 0:57 · Work in progress: the music is still to come.

Journal

  • A round pink and brown alien head with mismatched eyes and a wide smile, on purple and blue legs.
  • A blue-headed alien with antennae and a yellow body, standing on orange and purple legs.
  • A red one-eyed alien with cat ears, blue tentacles and a spring for a body.