Collaborative Art - Shared Memory

 

I am investigating different ways of painting from memories, and I was curious about the experience of co-creating a painting of a shared memory. Kaj and I agreed on a shared memory- a particular morning that we had spent together at a lake, and we painted it together on the same paper using charcoal, ink and chalk. We did not aim to depict the memory solely figuratively, but to also use gestures and abstract elements to represent its essence. 

It was delightful to soon discover that we were both painting the lake from the same location and perspective. There were elements Kaj painted that made sense to me from the memory (such as linework that echoed some land art that we made at the location), but also elements that I didn't recognise or understand (for example the rounded shapes that he described as “graves” when I asked what they were), and I believe these to be part of Kaj's own inner lexicon that shape his perspective of the world. It felt like I was seeing the memory through Kaj's eyes, but not fully understanding its significance, which was fascinating (though perhaps it can be felt to some extent through his mark-making). 

Since it was co-created, I can't be certain whether the final outcome accurately reflected the shared mood and feel of the memory. To me, it looks a little disjointed, but perhaps there is a truth to that, since our memories are both separate but intersect. I do think that the piece over all could have benefitted from some more deliberate selection of colour, which is something that we decided to explore further.