Instantaneous and rhythmic, sensual and varied in aspect, harmonious or contrasting in structure — a philosophy in action — “ink” may incite a similarly moderated discussion of relations between abstraction and figuration; of oscillations between the material and the conceptual; of locality and temporality in indexical marks and associative meanings.
— Michelle Fornabai

Michelle Fornabai's "ink"exhibition, a series of ink-on-mylar drawings produced and exhibited for "conceptual acts in concrete," explores the question of how spontaneity as a flowing cognition, experienced through varying occupations in time, transforms ideas of habit, function, and program in the architecture of everyday life.  Having premiered at Studio-X Beijing in July 2008, "ink" now travels to Studio-X New York as part of the GSAPP's growing Studio-X Global Network Initiative.

Conceived as three “ink” events and “ink” exhibits which gradually broaden in scale and scope to be held over the course of a year—in Beijing, then New York, and again in Beijing—this series will explore ink’s rich and varied potential as a medium to reflect upon elusive aspects latent in intellectual and artistic expression.

As part of Columbia University GSAPP’s growing Global Studio-X Network Initiative, the “first truly global network for real-time exchange of projects, people, and ideas between regional leadership cities,” “ink” is proposed to foster interdisciplinary dialogues among scholars, artists, curators, calligraphers and architects in Beijing and New York. 

"ink" exhibit at Studio X New York, pictured "Rorschach Paintings" 2006-2009, and "Projective Drawings" 2010 by Michelle Fornabai.

"ink" exhibit at Studio X New York, pictured "Rorschach Paintings" (2006-2009), "Projective Drawings" (2009), "act 1 pour ("Dreaming Stone Landscapes")" (2009-10) and mock material studies for "act 2 tilt" (2010) for Concrete Poetry: 10 Conceptual Acts of Architecture in Concrete by Michelle Fornabai.

Qin Pan and Eric Xu Li live from Beijing at the "ink" event at Studio X New York.

Mark Wigley and Jonas Mekas at the "ink" event at Studio X New York.

Audience participants at the "ink" event at Studio X New York.

website: "ink" exhibit opening at Studio X New York

review: Gavin Browning "ink" in Places Journal/Design Observer

video: Mark Wigley, Qing Pan, Jonas Mekas, Michelle Fornabai on YouTube