Matthew Barney

A series of works over several years, each called 'drawing restraint' and numbered chronologically, are about making a mark.

Drawing restraint is to be taken literally; the artist is restrained by self-designed and home-made contraptions. He then proceeds to draw and make marks whilst working against and with the restraints.

Drawing restraint 2

Drawing restraint 6

This unconventional approach to mark-making is very interesting and something I had not considered whilst thinking about drawing with chance methods. An accessible way to draw in this manner would be to make marks with a pencil attached to a meter stick, or drawing at arms length.

Drawing restraint 15 is slightly different in that the subject of the drawing is the drawing tool. A series of drawings were made on a transatlantic voyage, taking advantage of obstacles like motion sickness and turbulent seas.

Drawing restraint 15

Barney, M. (2007) Drawing Restraint: vol v: 1987-2007. London: Serpentine Gallery
Barney, M. (2005) Drawing Restraint [online] Available at: <http://www.drawingrestraint.net/main.htm> [Accessed 14th January 2012]