Focus on the negative –

The History Thieves by Ian Cobain encouraging me to contextualise negative space in terms of withheld or destroyed documents (extensive evidence of colonial crimes burned or dumped at sea) – which is the basis for my graphite experiments. Used Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act as document to be covered entirely in graphite, with intention to make drawings of the site with rubber. The act of drawing would then uncover details of Scotland’s Freedom of Information policy – how restrictive is it? and how much would our Government be willing to reform strict UK secrecy laws?

Covering paper in graphite front and back, with a view to making negative drawings with rubber. Produced one of Holyrood Palace from slope of Arthur’s seat – drawing this way means that the space around objects (e.g. lawn either side of the wall) is the active site on the page, is the space/object being drawn.

Drawing as a way to cover/uncover information. Conceal/reveal

Changed direction in experiment when I thought of burning/soaking these graphite covered sheets (can the graphite protect them from destruction?) – when covered so densely they become metallic, similar to tin foil, and so waterproof to a large extent.

I wondered how they would respond to fire – it burned pretty quickly but graphite held it together so that remains wouldn’t break to touch like burnt paper would.

Scottish Parliament Occupies A Strange Place: thinking about accountability of Scottish Parliament and how much blame is attributed to Westminster for failings, rightly or wrongly.

Came back to flags (central to WAWWA project and potentially to this one) – how can I make a negative flag? – transparent or tonal (black, white, grey). Did a bit of research into the histories of the Union Jack, St. Andrew’s, St. George’s and St. Patrick’s crosses – which flag was adopted first? when were they combined?

Reproduced a St. George’s cross by rubbing into graphite. This revealed the appendices of the FOISA document, which is largely incomprehensible, decontextualised and composed of web links.