Final Thoughts

I set out originally to explore different forms of narrative and ended up falling into an obsession with something of my own creation. The underlying theme was always narrative and this installation, even though it merged into obsession, is no different. The narrative behind this particular line was one of back-breaking non stop painting for 97.5 hours by someone that has become obsessed and fixated of completing their goal. The line is my own creation, something completely unique to me that I’ve been drawing for many years. I I know the line extremely well but this installation really pushed that. During the painting process I found myself feeling pride in my creation. Not everybody is able to create something from scratch, with rules, as a way of distraction or calming the mind. I was able to do that which I never really thought about before. When I completed the installation line, I was quite proud that I pushed myself to achieve something this big with only ever have drawn the line on paper.

Tired of Lines?

Pretty much anyone who witnessed my installation while I was painting it said to me, ‘Bet you’ll never want to draw it again’. Funnily enough I will probably continue drawing the line on any pieces or scraps of paper I come across when bored or stressed. The line was created as a way of escape. Even after 97.5 hours of non stop painting the line, I know well that I’ll continue to draw it.

Finished Line

The obsession took over for 97.5 hours from the beginning of the line on the desk to the end point at the entrance. It took 1 and 1/4 tubs of black matte paint and destroyed the sponge tool I was using to draw the line. I thought up the idea for the installation as an exploration of obsession and found myself actually becoming somewhat obsessed. I realised how much of a mind game the line is. You have to carefully figure out where to take the line so you don’t get trapped. The rules allow strategies to form and I was really getting into it. Not only did I become obsessed with the line and rules but with finishing the line. I wanted to be able finish what I started and when I did, felt a good deal of accomplishment.

Mistakes?

The top image is from the installation and the bottom image is from a pen on paper drawing of the line. The installation has it’s fair share of mistakes like overdrawn corners or messy edges. I don’t see those as mistakes but as strengths. In the original production of the line (pen and paper), there are countless mistakes. By doing it freehand and with such a small surface area, mistakes are bound to happen. So with my installation I like the fact that there are mistakes as it shows the freehand production. If I wanted perfectly straight lines with no mistakes, I would have used tape. I wanted to push myself and create a line that would fill a room. The room is upgraded paper and the paint is an upgraded pen. Pens can blot and leak, just like how paint can drop and spread. I wanted to keep some form of original production an of the line d I feel as though the ‘mistakes’ are just that.

Peter Kogler

When I started my installation, it was described as somewhat hypnotic. The lines took over the white space, drawing the eye in. Artist Peter Kogler creates optical illusion installations that do just that. The mind is tricked and confused to make for a very interesting space. My line is not there to confuse but to amaze the mind. The fact that it is one line intrigues the mind into wondering how it went from the notebook on the desk to the floor to the walls and all over objects such as radiators and pipes without the line being broken. The obsession was able to take over and fill the space with something hypnotizing.

How Far will the Line Go?

This is the entrance to my space, and what the viewers would see upon walking towards my space. I don’t want the line to be fully seen until there is more of a view of the room. Perhaps glances of the line from this angle is what I’ll do. Instead of completely covering the space in dense line, I could space it out until it fades out and ends at the entrance.

 

The Other Side of the Room

The line has finally crept along to the other side of the room. The entrance to the room is to the right so the wall to the left and the corner will be the first sighting of the line viewers will see. I don’t think I want to cover the entirety of the top wall however.

Mock Up Vs. Reality

I was surprised at how much the real installation resembles the mock up I made out of card. I created the mock up to convey what I wanted to do but also to work out how I could accomplish painting one line over a whole room. I made the mock up before I was given my actual space so it is all just flat surface except for the tv, tv stand, desk and chair. When I painted over the tv in my space I realised how much it looked like the mock up regardless of there being only flat surface.

Camouflaged Television

I’ve been putting a lot of detail into painting the line, which is probably why it’s taking so long to paint. I’ve painted underneath the desk which you can’t even see unless you go and look. I’ve made sure there’s no gaps left in the line due to any uneven application of paint or initial gaps left when painting corners. Even with the television and it’s stand, I painted the back of them even though the back faces the wall and you can’t even see the line properly. I want the line to consume as much as possible of the room so to me that included the back of the tv even if it isn’t clearly seen. I even painted the wall behind the television even though it’s being blocked. This way I was able to almost camouflage the tv.

A Slow Progression

Painting the line is very time consuming. It took a week to paint the room white as I had no help which mean’t I only had a week to cover the room in the line. It started off very slow, taking me a whole day to cover the desk. So I was worried I wouldn’t get the room finished. It was taking 15 hour days to cover smaller than desired areas of the room. As the room isn’t flat and has many edges and objects, it takes time to make sure it’s done correctly.