Disintegration LDN 2004-2019

[nanila]

Snippet.



I've been clearing out the conservatory after neglecting my art supplies pretty much since we moved in here seven years ago.

One of the things I discovered was that some of my works in progress had been water-damaged.

At first I was upset. One single thing made up for the loss of some precious memories: the discovery above.

Those of you with very long memories might recall that when I first moved to London, almost fifteen years ago now, I started quite a number of art projects. I completed some, others were left hanging after I found a job I could throw myself into wholeheartedly. This is one that I never finished. The plan was to take my little Lomo Supersampler film camera up and down every street in central London (using the A-Z to track where I took the photos), and select small but significant landmarks to represent a section of the grid on the OS map. I picked things that weren't obvious or permanent, like the Natural History Museum, but rather a piece of graffiti or a pub sign, something more ephemeral.

The water damage virtually erased some of the original photos. Others are intact. The effect is much more interesting than when all of them were identifiable.

I still have quite a few prints for other sections that I could use to fill in the blanks, carefully filed away in a small plastic storage tub. I'm now torn over whether to do this. Do I use them? Do I take another set of photos fifteen years later, fill it in, and stash it away in the attic, badly wrapped, for another seven years? Or do I leave it alone?

Comments

[annofowlshire]

I’ve got some of these abandoned projects. This is a really cool one, perhaps leave it as is (maybe add the extras you have if you’re feeling particularly completionist) as an artifact that time of your life?

[nanila]

I think that's right. I still have a load of photos with which I could start a new one - maybe mixing in a set of contemporary photos, too.

[nou]

I think it looks amazing as it is. Having the map not totally covered by photos means you can see the contrast between the standardised representation of the map and the individuality of the different areas.

(I think you should either put it up on the wall in your house, or lend or sell it to me so I can put it up in mine.)

[nanila]

Thank you. I may stick on a few of the bits that fell off. I'm not sure what to do with it yet - not quite ready to part with it, but thanks for the offer of looking after it. :)

[used_songs]

That's really beautiful. It looks like a quilt.

[nanila]

Thank you. I like how the damage has obfuscated the borders between the colour and black-and-white photos.

[azurelunatic]

That's amazing.

A second map, perhaps, for a companion piece?

[nanila]

Thank you. Yes, I think a companion piece/re-working is the right answer.

[silveradept]

It looks very interesting. I'm not sure whether to say it's great as it is or that it could look better finished and then a little water damaged on the rest.

[nanila]

Thank you - I think my solution will be to leave this one and make a companion piece.

[ironed_orchid]

I think you leave it as is. The bits of visible map give it context.

[cmcmck]

I tend to agree- it's well worth leaving as is.

[nanila]

Thank you - the consensus view went this way, and mine has as well.

[kotturinn]

Another vote for leaving it as it is. Like life, it's developed, and that adds another layer of interest to it. I haven't expressed that very well, [waves paws around in a wooly kind of way].

[nanila]

It makes sense! Thank you. :)

[worlds_of_smoke]

another vote for leaving it like it is. <3

[nanila]

♥ Thank you.

[pbristow]

=:oo

[nanila]

:D!