‘SEA CHANGE’
A collaborative work by the German artist, Bettina Reiber, the Canadian writer, Leslie Forbes, and the English graphic designer, Andrew Thomas
General Philosphy of our Collaboration
In 2007 the three of us began working together on drawing projects exploring the notion of place. Then,
in 2009, we began a collaborative project focussing specifically on Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula (which, ironically, has a historic location named ‘Place’). We stayed there for a week in June working collaboratively on land art, photography, writing and drawing.
Method/Process for the composite ‘SEA CHANGE’
We began by meeting in London and discussing our chosen method, establishing that although our structure would be very formal, with each person working within the limits of a 25cm by 25cm piece of paper, we must feel absolutely free to deconstruct the previous person’s drawing in any way: tearing or cutting, scribbling, scratching or collaging on it.
It was decided to choose a photo taken on our June 2009 trip to Roseland and divide it into 9 squares, 25cm by 25cm, with each person given a random three 25cm sections of the photo. We agreed to take our
3 sections away to work separately, and for us to reassemble three nights later, when we would pass ‘our’ three drawings to the next person, at that time exchanging ideas about method, materials and process.
This would continue until each of us had worked on all 9 drawings. The final step was to make a composite of all 9 drawings.
The outcome of our process is nine drawings of 25 cm by 25 cm that each work as individual drawings in their own right. Equally, they work as a composite, when arranged in the 3-square format.
Important aspects for us in creating ‘Sea Change’
1/ Our intellectual collaboration in devising its process and structure.
2/ The tactile, physical collaboration, working on drawings started, continued and completed by three separate artists.
3/ The ‘time’ aspect of developing ideas in London that were responses to having stayed together in a very particular Cornish landscape, and responding to ‘place’ physically and intellectually: sitting together and drawing together, but also working separately, then coming together again to discuss and share individual thinking processes.
4/ The sense of being involved in a social and an artistic experiment.
