Breaking as making: A methodology for visual work reflected in writing

Mary Anne Francis suggests; ‘‘that an artist’s writing should aspire to
the condition of well, yes, art’’ (2009: 3). As an artist, rather than analysing
the thinking within my artwork I attempt to reflect the approach of artwork
in writing. ‘Breaking'’ is the main theme running through my artwork and
writing and in addition both have developed to use breaking as a
methodology. Since the methodology and subject are both ‘breaking’ it is
difficult to distinguish in writing where one stops and the other starts; both
contribute to understanding the experience of the other.

To make writing I literally physically cut up previous versions, add new
additions on post-it notes and completely rearrange it, before then
rewriting. As this practice has developed I realised there is also a strong
theme of breaking on a philosophical level. This revolves around
Benjamin’s allegory, Derrida’s break and Frey’s fragmentary as
constituting a different order to that based on the whole. Through these
philosophies of breaking I will propose a space for making art that reflects
the elements of risk, uncertainty and paradox.