From One—The Evolution of a Single Drawing
Sometimes, the most unexpected beginnings lead us somewhere entirely new. During my winter residency in Finland in 2024, I created a series of small geometric studies, one of which would eventually become the foundation for an evolving body of work. Curiously, Distillation No. 74 wasn't among my favourites. Yet there was something about its composition that intrigued me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I sensed it held possibilities worth exploring. What began as a simple study would gradually unfold into something far greater than I could have imagined.
The original study, Distillation No. 74, was an intuitive arrangement of mirrored forms, transparent layers, suspended circles and architectural lines. Its geometry held an internal rhythm, a quiet balance between softness and structure. As I began exploring its possibilities, I became increasingly interested in how the same composition could take on an entirely different character through changes in colour, scale, material and spatial relationships.
What followed was not a series of reproductions, but a process of transformation. Works such as In the Same Breath, Inaudible Sermons, A Part of Her, Diluted Sounds and Field of Light emerged from this single source, each developing its own identity while retaining something of the original geometry. Some became softer and more atmospheric, others more architectural or pronounced. Each exploration revealed something I hadn't anticipated, encouraging me to look again, reconsider, and follow the composition somewhere new.
What fascinates me most about this process is the idea that a single arrangement of forms can hold so many possibilities. There is a relationship between repetition and discovery that I find particularly compelling. Returning to familiar geometry is not necessarily about repeating myself, but about seeing something differently. Much like a musical phrase interpreted in different ways, the underlying structure remains recognizable, yet its expression continually changes. And as I begin exploring these forms on larger surfaces and through different materials, I sense there is still more to discover.
Looking back, I still can't say exactly what drew me to that particular study. Perhaps that's part of the beauty of the creative process. Not everything needs to be understood at the outset. Sometimes, curiosity is enough to begin.
From one, many.
Study, Distillation No. 74. Created in Finland, 2024
