LOSING
Monique van der Wal, 2022

Measures: 20 x 20 x 1 cm
Technique: Plaster and Recycled pape, Inkjet on 170 gram paper, Coptic bound

A love letter guides the reader through stages of simultaneously being in love, being chased and fearing concrete; this book explores how concrete can be the antagonist in a story. How can a stationary building chase, tower over and inpede on the reader? This question is answered through illustration, poetry, photography and found footage from the most desolate regions findable on Google Streetview.

Building off of Hito Steyerl’s text “In Defence of the Poor Image” and inspired by John Smith’s film “Black Tower”, I expanded on the feeling of dread and developed the story through grainy imagery- my favourite language.