Movement registrations, each 9,5x17cm, Woodcut, 2024

In this work series, I recorded the movements of firebugs in their natural habitat through blind drawing. This method involves observing firebugs within a defined field of view for about five minutes while sketching their movements on a wooden board, without looking at the drawing. If several firebugs are present, both hands are used simultaneously to follow their gestures. These drawings are later carved into wood and printed in the studio.

Blind drawing contrasts with usual observational drawing by emphasising the process of engagement (Ingold 2015), rather than the creation of an accurate image. This technique prioritises the act of observing rather than judging the marks being made. It relies on an embodied understanding of drawing, where the hand intuitively follows the eye without conscious control or visual feedback. This approach taps into tacit knowledge (Polanyi, 1966) and allows for a more bodily and immersive experience. However, blind drawing has its limitations. Because there is no way to correct or adjust the drawing in real time, the recorded movement may not accurately reflect the firebug‘s actual path, often resulting in distortions or exaggerations. In addition, the lack of visual feed- back makes the drawings more difficult to analyse or reproduce. Nonetheless, the process allows the sensory experience to be translated into movement, with visual information travelling through the body, arm and hand, rather than directly from the eye to the hand.

Developing these drawings into graphic works through printmaking is a way of reengaging with the experience of observing and of becoming aware of the process of image-making itself. The physicality of engraving adds a tactile dimension, transforming fleeting gestures into permanent marks.
The act of carving serves as a form of embodied memory, reinforcing the presence and agency of the firebugs (Andersen, 2017). The repeated gestures of engraving solidify the initial movements, creating a layered process of engagement and reflection that ultimately deepens the connection between printmaker and insect.