Inktober 2021

Haven’t written in a long while. I’ve silently retreated away from the web at a turtle-like pace, slowly becoming too disillusioned with the instant access to a whirlwind tornado of loud voices, passionate opinions and bots which emulate loud voices and passionate opinions.

Leaving the digital existentialism aside, last year I found just about enough time to participate in Inktober again. So far I am a biannual participant to this challenge, last time being 2019 and 2017 before that.

Finding time was the the true challenge. Working full-time as a designer takes away 40 hours a week instantly, October also being the month I exhibited work for the first time abroad, part of an exhibition Erzbiennale 3.0 in the beautiful town of Trofaiach, Austria. Preparations for that took some time as well, I was (am) also a member in a trio which performed a show named “Lucifer” under the watchful artistic vision of Ajda Špacapan (I play(ed) guitar) and “Lucifer” himself Anže Slana. The show premiered in November, but all the major rehearsals took place in October. Lastly, what was being prepared was an exhibition of the collaboration between me and Gašper Selko on his album “A Guide For Lost Travellers”. What I wanted to fit in was some time for my loved ones as well. Squeezed in like a sardine in a tin can was my Inktober project.

Size was what saved my endeavour. Making each square 1x1 cm in size is what made it possible for the project to be finished, whilst also providing a nice sub-challenge. I didn’t make my life any easier by filming every drawing (nearly, missed one day), but it felt gratifying to aim high, given the circumstances, and actually complete it.