I recently heard about something called
"Wreck This Journal". I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to... well, everything! As well as being a bit of a clean freak (although extremely messy...!) This idea of complete freedom to destroy something excited me. The concept of taking a sketchbook, and using a creative process to albeit render it unusable is the type of thing which fascinates and enthralls me. How much thought should go into wrecking something? Should it be a thought out process of destruction, or should it just happen naturally?
I picked up a cheap A4, stapled sketchbook. One that can be easily carried around with me, and easily battered in the process. I want the contents of the pages to be thought out, to some extent. I also want spontaneous combustion to happen at any moment. I want to leave it lying in the kitchen, and try and overcome my need for nothing to spilled on it, and just let it happen. I want the world to take it's toll on it, yet still view it as a piece of art at the end of it. And I'd love to one day try this with canvasses...
I only started this a few days ago, and I do not want to reveal the final look of the pages until the journal is full. I do however want to show the destruction of it. Where I am and what I am doing.
I initially picked the sketchbook up in Liverpool, and whilst sitting in the docks I removed the crisp, clean journal from my bag, folded the cover back on itself (ah, creases!) and placed it beneath my feet...
The next day I was left to wait in the dentist's waiting room whilst my husband had a filling done. My journal came out of my bag and I started ripping a spiral out of a page... Such a pointless exercise, yet so enjoyable!
We went to New Brighton whilst we were in the area, to feel some fresh air... My journal got to enjoy it too. Letting the spiral run free - it will never fold up the same again!
Yesterday, I was too ill to leave the house, yet tea managed to keep me semi human. I have always wanted to do a project revolving around tea bags, and here I started meanderings:
I don't know what today or tomorrow will hold for the journal. I don't know if it will still be in one piece at the end. But this is stretching what I believe to be art, and how to use a sketchbook, and that is a jolly good thing.
How would you destroy a journal?
