FIRST SKETCH

I chose to document Chen for this project. Mainly because she and I have completely different work and methods, which provides a challenge because we are complete outsiders to each other. Because I could not meet with Chen in person yet, I placed our email contact on this page to see what the basic idea for documentation on her work is.

Hello Chen (And Annet, I ccd you on this so you can read my first idea draft as well),

I won't be in school this week, so it will make it a little bit harder. But this is basically the overview of what at least the format should be like in my opinion. As you say that in this big topic you chose drawing, 'since drawing is the source or starting point of art', I think this should be the basis of the documentation.

It's about your starting point, the why of your work. Not nessecarily the end product, but the process you go through. I don't know how you want to show this, with what you are comfortable. I think that just taking pictures of how you work is not how this should be done... so that's a thing I'm still pondering.

The thing is that it should be within the concept of 'drawing'. You're sentence about 'the spirit of drawing' is something that should be visible the whole time. The way I thought it for example, is that in the end I create a documentation book. Imagine I take pictures of you working (I cannot draw at all), but then I use light paper to trace that picture and make it into a drawing. It would be like a sketchbook, but about your process. I would use different kinds of drawing materials and paper within the book. I could even imagine eventualy I actually leave the pages with pictures as well, as it seems in the book the drawing will have come earlier, it creates an extra dimension.

The other thing I think is important to emphisize is the difference between East and West. Now I don't know how you exactly see this in your projects (for this we should meet), but I can imagine left pages are east and right pages are about the west. Or I can supply data with the process about what you're discovering on the way about the differences, and as a way to give the book rythm, every so pages I create a table in which I enlist the differences etc.

I see this as a book that might even have an open ending, a book that really describes your process.

I have no sketches at all! Just a thought. I hope to hear your opinion on this, and we should definately meet up after the holidays.

Have a nice holiday!

Arantxa

Hi Arantxa,

I think it is an interesting idea, what kind of format you can decide, since the "documentation" work it is more about how you want to document and which aspect is interested for you. I used to draw alone, quiet environment is more comfortable for me. And I work either in studio at late night or home, I think if you need to film the process, we can do it one night I work in PZI ( it will probably around 10 till 12, if it is too late we can talk later. )

And for the idea of the potential difference and similarity between Eastern and Western, my idea is not mature enough at this moment, even just as a draft. It is better to talk this later.

Hope it is helpful, See u soon!

Chen

Hello Chen,

I agree with your comments. I'm fine with coming to PZI at night time. Its just that we have a massive deadline so I have no time whatsoever right now... why don't we meet up late, and I start the documentation process in the first week of april. Let me know if this suits you.

Bye,

Arantxa

Hi Arantxa, I just realised I forgot to reply the last message. Putting our meeting in April is also better for me. And I don't have a clear idea for the final yet, my plan has been changed in last two weeks, you know, graduation... I think it is better to do this documentation a bit later, otherwise documenting something which would not be part the project is a waste of your time.

Good luck for the assessment !

Cheers, Chen

Allright, you know what! I'll start making some tests with materials and methods I can use. Then you let me know when your ready with the conceptalization of the work, and we come together to combine the two.

Is that an idea? Let me know!

Arantxa