Tidstavle over H.C. Andersens liv 1875-1867 1930 - 1938

This is a page of script, probably made with ink on paper, by Niels Larsen Stevns, which maps out the life of H.C. Anderson. Looking at this, I think about how artists make sense of the world by organising information, sometimes in an intuitive way. The sepia tones of the paper give it a wonderful aged feeling, like looking at an ancient map, and the looping cursive script gives it a performative energy. The writing feels quick and light. The negative space between the lines creates its own rhythm on the page. It's like a musical score, open and inviting. For me, this connects with the work of artists like On Kawara or Emma Kunz, who had systems of organisation which they repeated throughout their lives, exploring ways to find personal meaning through a deep engagement with process.