Connect the Dots │ "Anatomy of an Artwork"

It is an actual challenge to put this piece into words, so I will start with basic, unchallenged facts: this project began its course back in August of 2017. The exact date evades me and I probably never wrote it down anywhere for the reason I never thought it would take so long to complete. The final dot was pressed upon this A4 watercolour paper on the 23rd of December 2020. I made sure to mark down that day.

All together, a rough estimation and approximation, 800 hours were spent from start to finish, including initial sketching, outlining and stippling. I calculated from my speed of stippling, counting the dots in a very small area, size of the rOtring pen and just rough guessing that there must be around 3 million dots covering the paper. Like I said, it is a rough estimation, edging on a guess, but it must be in that vicinity.

Only one brand of pen was used for this project: rOtring Isograph 0.13mm. I say one brand, because the pen itself changed between 10 or 12 times during these 3 years. Mostly due to technical issues, clogging or the pen just ceasing to work properly.

That roughly covers the factual part of the illustration. Here goes the challenging part of the description.

I’ve been struggling to write down what this piece means to me and why I made it, not because I don’t know, but because I don’t know if it is fair to write down my own interpretation.

I’m not the first nor the last to debate this subject, but there is something about interpreting your own work and robbing the viewer/spectator of their own experience. Why should my words hold any more meaning, value or weight than those of the person viewing this illustration for the first time? I mostly write down my versions of ideas because I know I really like reading about my favorite artists and finding their own descriptions of their work. It adds a dimension which wasn’t there before and I rarely come away from it not feeling a certain element of surprise, either because I never viewed the artwork from that perspective before or finding out about the inspiration behind it.

But I notice another process happening in my conscience. I replace my interpretation with the one artist had in mind. Perhaps replace is too strong a word, but the artists’ interpretation forevermore lingers in my mind whenever I see the artwork in question. It adds color but it also taints it. I liken this to reading a book, developing the appearance of a character in my mind, their clothes, mannerisms, ways of speaking etc. and later seeing the movie according to that book. No matter how hard I may try, the actor will replace the vision I had in my mind of the character.

I realise the differences (movies can only be observed, books have to be imagined whereas the artwork remains the same with or without description) but the basic sentiment still applies. Would you as the viewer and deliberator be swayed and rerouted by my viewpoint? Would my words not taint your perspective?

I firmly believe in everyone’s ability to interpret things on their own, I believe in the individuals merit to put meaning behind any artwork they experience. Is it not, at least in the slightest, an insult to the viewer to tell them what this artwork really means? I made it but…so what? If there is any freedom to be had, especially cerebral and intellectual freedom, it should be in the interpretation of art. The artist is merely the creator, not necessarily the interpreter. That is on the part of the viewer.

Rereading this and trying to view it from a third person (an impossible task) makes me think that I’m just redirecting and deliberately avoiding any sort of explanation, as if its a defence mechanism to prevent talking about the illustration to avoid criticism or a perceived shallow depth. But I do have my own thoughts that guided me in the creation of this piece, from a very strong initial idea that grew and grew as long as the illustration was being made. To surmise it and put it in one sentence: A drawing about mechanics made in a mechanical way by a human.

So after all of that I still supplied a description, as vague as it may appear. I like that it is not too longwinded or too detailed, unlike the illustration itself or this essay. Perhaps even that sentence is too much, but from now on all the Connect the Dots entries will be more of the essay, diary-like meditations about everything that is occupying my mind.

To go back to the facts, the artwork was absolutely exquisitely and perfect framed by Atelje Artes. Seeing it in this beautiful eternal casing really makes me appreciate even more the effort that went behind this.

Also, a massive thanks to Gašper Selko for composing a piece that accompanies the video of the process. It really fit perfectly, Gašper read my mind with so little words and made a piece of music which is beautiful, mesmerising, enchanting and powerful. Check out his Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Soundcloud or website.

Prints of this illustration will not be available, only the original is on sale. For further enquiry you can contact me at dejvid.knezevic@gmail.com