drawings books

kristján gudmundsson, supersonic drawing, 1972, 50 x 50 cm, series of 3 unique drawings by rifle shot, burnt gunpowder on heavy paper, photo kees van gelder

'a feeling for the mathematically sublime is present in supersonic drawing (1972), made by shooting a bullet from a rifle across the face of a sheet of paper. it took the bullet 1/1500 of a second to cross the sheet from one edge to another leaving a thin trace of singed paper and gunpowder, in what kristján has called 'an unspeakably beautiful, brief period of time.' never in the history of art has a drawing been completed in less time.’

gunnar arnason in drawing lessons from time, frieze june 6 1994

 

kristján gudmundsson