We were introduced to unit 5, the collaboration unit. After a lecture on why collaboration is important to artists, we were split into big groups. The lesson task for the day is to draw the Wimbledon college map from memory. It was very difficult as I have very weak geographical memory and understanding of buildings, especially in transferring a 3D space into a 2D map as well as thinking of all the directions each room was facing etc. Splitting the paper into two we tried to map the ground and first floor. Our group had trouble and kept jumping back and forth on where each room is and what direction we are facing. In the end a rough map was formed and some people also noted down areas they’ve had disagreements or good memories in. It was quite interesting to see, visually the environment we inhabit everyday as a 2D drawing from above.
It was quite interesting to see the map coming together because you don’t usually get to draw with a large group of people often. In a sense, I guess you are building a collective image, bits of information collected from each and every one of us. What comes out in the end is entirely unique. This task depended on memory and familiarity/relationship of our university environment. Even though the map wasn’t completely accurate, it was still very useful to see the gaps in our knowledge of the environment around us. It made me see just how little I know about the hallways I pass through everyday, the stairs I take every morning. It is as if I were walking in a maze I only know one way in and out of.
