Drawing conversations
I’m interested in the authorship and ownership of creativity. Or rather, I’m interested in how we might break down ideas of singular creation and possession of works of art. Drawing offers a primary, stripped down practice that we are all capable of in some form or other.

I’ve recently been having drawing conversations with others in an attempt to explore what it is to collaborate in an intimate space: space that also reveals process and produces evidence, or artifact as an outcome. Spoken conversations can be recorded and played back but knowing that a recording is being made often effects what we say and how we respond. Authorship of the spoken word is mostly indisputable – in law this can mean the difference between freedom and imprisonment. A combined drawing activity can either reveal or obscure an original mark or gesture. In parallel with music in ensemble, drawing can fuse together marks, lines, phrases, and textures into a combined experience. It can be predetermined or improvisational. The result is unrepeatable and living process in relationship is revealed.

Drawing conversation can also take place by correspondence. An image is sent by post to others with instructions to work into or over as appropriate. Documenting the image before and after it’s been worked into enables a history to be created, the stages in co-creation saved. The whole process can be done digitally of course but the essential tactile artifact is lost.

Drawing created with Mike Carney
Drawing created by Mike Carney, Alex Wolkowicz and Jon Barraclough
Drawn with Chiz Turnross during Liverpool Biennial 10

Drawing conversations
I’m interested in the authorship and ownership of creativity. Or rather, I’m interested in how we might break down ideas of singular creation and possession of works of art. Drawing offers a primary, stripped down practice that we are all capable of in some form or other.

I’ve recently been having drawing conversations with others in an attempt to explore what it is to collaborate in an intimate space: space that also reveals process and produces evidence, or artifact as an outcome. Spoken conversations can be recorded and played back but knowing that a recording is being made often effects what we say and how we respond. Authorship of the spoken word is mostly indisputable – in law this can mean the difference between freedom and imprisonment. A combined drawing activity can either reveal or obscure an original mark or gesture. In parallel with music in ensemble, drawing can fuse together marks, lines, phrases, and textures into a combined experience. It can be predetermined or improvisational. The result is unrepeatable and living process in relationship is revealed.

Drawing conversation can also take place by correspondence. An image is sent by post to others with instructions to work into or over as appropriate. Documenting the image before and after it’s been worked into enables a history to be created, the stages in co-creation saved. The whole process can be done digitally of course but the essential tactile artifact is lost.