‘Blood on Silk: As Per Instructions I’ 2013, canvas, paint and nails, 200 x 300 (h) x 70(d) cm

An survey exhibition at Artspace of the work of Ian Milliss, titled ‘Notes on the Works’ included my work ‘Blood on Silk: As per Instructions I’ as one of a number of instructional works which had been made and remade by others over the years of his practice.

The instructions to me for this work were relatively simple – I was to use strips of canvas, 200mm or so wide and what ever length I wanted, make them whatever colour I wanted and nail the strips to the wall in whatever way I wanted.

My work ‘Blood on Silk: As per Instructions I’ is a visualisation within the instruction I was given of the typical pattern formed by eight drops of blood falling from a height of one metre. In this visualisation the eight drops of blood have slid down the wall and onto the floor. The work as well has slid down the wall and onto the floor. The work has not followed the instructions and it was always very likely that it wouldn’t.