Julie Unruh
Talking to herself

Talking to herself, X.11-12

Copperpoint on prepared ground on found paper

20" x 13"

Translation of the cuneiform:"Talking to herself she spoke a word, taking counsel in her own mind."

In the Gilgamesh story, "she" is the barmaid Siduri, deciding that Gilgamesh looks dangerous and bolting the door. The drawing is of an actual wall at an archaeological site on which I have worked. Conceptually, it is a complicated symbol and about more than one thing. I wonder, have my life experiences made me too quick to bolt the door?

Another meaning that this drawing holds is that while standing on the threshold of an ancient building, and "taking counsel in my own mind," I had an epiphany about how much I am defined by my experiences with archaeology.

ABOUT THE GILGAMESH SERIES

This series of 10 drawings is based on the ancient Mesopotamian story of Gilgamesh. "Gilgamesh" appears on cuneiform tablets (an ancient form of writing on clay) dating to about 2000 B.C.E. It relates an epic journey made by the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and his friend, Enkidu. The story is also about what is and is not eternal and significant. These 10 drawings, like the story, are about permanence versus transience, and about trying to determine what is important and what is inconsequential.

The drawing substrate - paper bags - comment on disposability and value. Like excavated archaeological material (most of which is ancient refuse), when the paper bags are put into a different context, their significance changes. Also like excavated archaeological material, the paper bags will deteriorate over time. In this way, the drawings are like the ancient tablets on which the story of Gilgamesh was written.

All of the drawings in this series are made by drawing with sharpened silver or copper wire. The lines are created by transfered metal particles, which means that the drawings themselves will tarnish with time, like archaeological objects.