mind, mind, and body
acrylic paint, ink, charcoal, marker, on bristol and newsprint
(top paintings: 36x48″. bottom: 18x24″)
bottom paintings from left to right:
still life, body, self portrait
This project was an experiment to see how much control of the painting i could lose, while still calling it my own. Although the paintings were not done entirely by my own hand, my mind created the rules and instructions which dictated what the body of another person will do.
This performance/ experiment was done using two minds, and one body. The smaller paintings were done in an instructive way by myself and another person. I blind folded the person, and guided their hand with my verbal instructions. I tried to be specific in my instructions, using phrases such as “move up and and to the left corner of the page.” However i refrained from telling them what they were drawing. Each drawing was done by a different person.
The larger drawings done slightly differently, giving away more of my control of the painting. Inspired by Sol Lewitt, I created a set of written instructions to give to the person. The instructions varied from specific, to vague. I left the room, and came back when the person had finished the instructions. Each painting had a different set of instructions.
I debated with myself whether or not i could truly call these paintings my own. Some called it a collaborative piece, but i concluded with the decision of this;
Without myself the paintings would never have existed, without the instruction of myself, the painting would have no means of being done.

Damn yo!