laurencunninghamart.com

Rope
2010
Pastel, graphite, and string on paper
24" x 18"

This drawing is about the profound impact that subtle changes can have and also a demand for attention to detail. At first glance, the word "rope" is written both above and below a set of concentric circles—above in cursive with a piece of white string, then below in a similar font, but outlined in graphite and filled in with white pastel. Especially in the context of the words created with string and the rope-like cursive, the concentric circles are reminiscent of a coiled rope.

A closer inspection will reveal that the spelling of the second "rope" differs by one letter, resulting in a similar yet profoundly different word: rape. Replacing the "o" in rope with an "a" is like raping the word itself. Just as a rape victim is forever impacted by the traumatic experience, the word "rope" has been fundamentally altered, even though it maintains its overall shape.