LOST SKETCH
Written by Roman Sotnichenko
A: You often get this feeling that your life is a pile of empty days, however, you might uncover
genuine gems in this pile from time to time. One such gem was in store for the unexpecting me
today. On this perfectly run-of-the-mill day that seemed to promise nothing special, I went out for
my regular walk. The city, which used to inspire me with its grand scale, now was rather intimidating
with all its magnitude. Subconsciously, yet persistently, this feeling made me go further and further,
asif trying to escape the myriads of windows looking at me with empty indifference. The claustrophobic
vibe of the city infused me with apathy that could only be overcome with brief moments of inspiration
that lit up the dull days like radiant beams. I was trying to find the inspiration in the architecture
around me, peering into the history of buildings, trying to unravel the mysteries of their creators.
But the sketchpad, which I carry by nature of habit, was filling up slower than I’d like to.
genuine gems in this pile from time to time. One such gem was in store for the unexpecting me
today. On this perfectly run-of-the-mill day that seemed to promise nothing special, I went out for
my regular walk. The city, which used to inspire me with its grand scale, now was rather intimidating
with all its magnitude. Subconsciously, yet persistently, this feeling made me go further and further,
asif trying to escape the myriads of windows looking at me with empty indifference. The claustrophobic
vibe of the city infused me with apathy that could only be overcome with brief moments of inspiration
that lit up the dull days like radiant beams. I was trying to find the inspiration in the architecture
around me, peering into the history of buildings, trying to unravel the mysteries of their creators.
But the sketchpad, which I carry by nature of habit, was filling up slower than I’d like to.
A: Like a black cloud obscuring the sun, a blimp floated over my head. My heart skipped a beat with
a vague excited feeling — after all, human flight was the last thing that amazed me. The mere idea
of hovering over the city fascinated me. To be in the sky, the only place where you still can experience
the freedom that I missed so badly.
a vague excited feeling — after all, human flight was the last thing that amazed me. The mere idea
of hovering over the city fascinated me. To be in the sky, the only place where you still can experience
the freedom that I missed so badly.
N: I had been watching her for some time now. Not sure if I should have. It is a strange way
toapproach someone, even worse — I was careless, and she spotted me earlier than would be ideal.
I felt she was growing anxious and realized that there was no more time to waste. It was time
to make the first step.
toapproach someone, even worse — I was careless, and she spotted me earlier than would be ideal.
I felt she was growing anxious and realized that there was no more time to waste. It was time
to make the first step.
A: Initially, I only saw some silhouette in the crowd. Then, it seemed to crop up more and more
frequently. “Apparently, someone’s stalking me,” I thought laughingly, dismissing the idea as
aproduct of a lively imagination. But after some time, it was far from a laughing matter. It was
clear — someone was definitely following me. He had expected to remain unnoticed in thick crowds,
I think, to get lost in between people like a tree in a dense forest. And yet, time and again, as my
eyes were scanning the surroundings, I rarely failed to spot the outline of his figure. And his look!
First, I only noticed a brief glance, but then I could literally feel it on my back, like needle pricks. I had
been walking for a few hours now, without an idea of any direction; and this man pursued me still.
frequently. “Apparently, someone’s stalking me,” I thought laughingly, dismissing the idea as
aproduct of a lively imagination. But after some time, it was far from a laughing matter. It was
clear — someone was definitely following me. He had expected to remain unnoticed in thick crowds,
I think, to get lost in between people like a tree in a dense forest. And yet, time and again, as my
eyes were scanning the surroundings, I rarely failed to spot the outline of his figure. And his look!
First, I only noticed a brief glance, but then I could literally feel it on my back, like needle pricks. I had
been walking for a few hours now, without an idea of any direction; and this man pursued me still.
N: Finally, I came close enough to be able to look into her eyes. They gave off surprising calmness,
aweariness even, but my appearance sparked a visible interest. As if she had been waiting for that
and was not surprised at all. I myself felt anxious and my body shivered treasonously. However, just
as I overcame the fear of crashing was every time I went up into the sky, I overpowered my fear now
too. Walking up even closer, I spoke to her.
aweariness even, but my appearance sparked a visible interest. As if she had been waiting for that
and was not surprised at all. I myself felt anxious and my body shivered treasonously. However, just
as I overcame the fear of crashing was every time I went up into the sky, I overpowered my fear now
too. Walking up even closer, I spoke to her.
A: I don’t know why, but something inside me responded to him right away — responded to the fire
in his eyes, the energy of his voice and this straightforward sincerity of his words. All this
engaged me, luring me into going on an adventure with him, wherever it might ultimately lead.
A drawing I just finished this morning caught his eye. The picture had two figures enjoying
the dawn in a huge, empty and sleepy city that was only about to wake up. I hadn’t come up with
a reason for them to have met yet. I didn’t know where they would go next. He stretched out his
hand to me, and so did I.
in his eyes, the energy of his voice and this straightforward sincerity of his words. All this
engaged me, luring me into going on an adventure with him, wherever it might ultimately lead.
A drawing I just finished this morning caught his eye. The picture had two figures enjoying
the dawn in a huge, empty and sleepy city that was only about to wake up. I hadn’t come up with
a reason for them to have met yet. I didn’t know where they would go next. He stretched out his
hand to me, and so did I.
A: We were rushing away from the heart of the megapolis in a car, driving on an arterial road
towards some remote corner of the city. N did not tell me where we were going, only saying that
I had to see it for myself. “Maybe, I shouldn’t have trusted him?” I thought uncertainly, but it was
too late to turn back.
towards some remote corner of the city. N did not tell me where we were going, only saying that
I had to see it for myself. “Maybe, I shouldn’t have trusted him?” I thought uncertainly, but it was
too late to turn back.
A: We ended up in a hangar in the suburbs. Large like a toppled skyscraper, it held a mystery
for me to solve. It was compartmentalized into many rooms that seemed to be mirror images
of each other. Then I was able to discern two figures deeper inside the hangar… Who might
that be? Were we not alone? Or were the reflections simply toying with me? So far out, it was
impossible to see clearly, and I grew even more apprehensive, very uncomfortable. Feeling like
a trapped small animal, I looked at N annoyedly, demanding answers, but he just pointed silently
to one of the windows looming in front of us.
for me to solve. It was compartmentalized into many rooms that seemed to be mirror images
of each other. Then I was able to discern two figures deeper inside the hangar… Who might
that be? Were we not alone? Or were the reflections simply toying with me? So far out, it was
impossible to see clearly, and I grew even more apprehensive, very uncomfortable. Feeling like
a trapped small animal, I looked at N annoyedly, demanding answers, but he just pointed silently
to one of the windows looming in front of us.
A: I still couldn’t quite grasp what was going on. The chain of events that had led me here,
this weird place, unmotivated but growing attraction to N — all this made everything feel
like a dream, unhurried and captivating. At the window, I saw that between me and the next
section of rooms lied a space akin to a big hallway or rather a tunnel, which led... Where to?
As a flash of lightning, it occurred to me that the meaning of our journey was at the end
of this tunnel, in that black void which engulfed it. There was something that had been waiting
for me for a long time, and I could clearly feel my affinity to it.
this weird place, unmotivated but growing attraction to N — all this made everything feel
like a dream, unhurried and captivating. At the window, I saw that between me and the next
section of rooms lied a space akin to a big hallway or rather a tunnel, which led... Where to?
As a flash of lightning, it occurred to me that the meaning of our journey was at the end
of this tunnel, in that black void which engulfed it. There was something that had been waiting
for me for a long time, and I could clearly feel my affinity to it.
A: “I need to see this!”, the thought that made me rush for the door that stood between me
andthe beckoning mystifying space. I totally forgot about N and dashed past him without waiting.
He bolted after me, as if trying to give a warning, but, in fact, just wanting to catch the moment
when I first see what had been waiting for me for so long.
andthe beckoning mystifying space. I totally forgot about N and dashed past him without waiting.
He bolted after me, as if trying to give a warning, but, in fact, just wanting to catch the moment
when I first see what had been waiting for me for so long.
A: Slowly, almost reluctantly, the doors were sliding open. Light flowed into the black abyss,
pushing away the darkness, but the room was so huge that the light filled only a fraction of it.
But what I could make out was quite enough. I froze, astounded by the spectacle before my eyes.
N regarded it calmly, with a warm smile — he had seen it many times before. He gestured for me
to come in and take a closer look.
pushing away the darkness, but the room was so huge that the light filled only a fraction of it.
But what I could make out was quite enough. I froze, astounded by the spectacle before my eyes.
N regarded it calmly, with a warm smile — he had seen it many times before. He gestured for me
to come in and take a closer look.
N: Despite the darkness in the hangar, I could see her face clearly. Full of awe and surprise, it was
radiant. I let myself enjoy this moment. This was so great, as if I were an artist too and finally met
an understanding viewer. The drawing in my hand made me think of how ideas were very much like
journeys: They also could take you to unexpected places. Could I have ever imagined that I would end
up in that situation at the time when I found this drawing? Could she have imagined that as she
was originally making it? And who was the author of this story then, she or I? An idea that was
released into the open world is like an unstoppable force that impacts the system and brings it out
of balance to usher in a new order. It was time to go further. This spot was just a beginning of our
journey. Airships are not built to be moored on the ground.
radiant. I let myself enjoy this moment. This was so great, as if I were an artist too and finally met
an understanding viewer. The drawing in my hand made me think of how ideas were very much like
journeys: They also could take you to unexpected places. Could I have ever imagined that I would end
up in that situation at the time when I found this drawing? Could she have imagined that as she
was originally making it? And who was the author of this story then, she or I? An idea that was
released into the open world is like an unstoppable force that impacts the system and brings it out
of balance to usher in a new order. It was time to go further. This spot was just a beginning of our
journey. Airships are not built to be moored on the ground.
A: N stretched out his hand to me. His long fingers held a ragged paper that seemed vaguely
familiar. I looked closer and recognized it beyond any doubt. It was one of my earlier drawings, from
the time when I was still inspired by virtually everything. The drawing was of a zeppelin in graceful
flight — at that time I really fell for them: large as clouds, grand machines, leisurely traversing
the skies. Flying these airships agitated my imagination. But this was so long ago; no, really, I didn’t
even recall if I had lost or thrown this drawing away. And how did he get it? Could it be, he had stolen
it from me? I looked at N in awe, but, anticipating my question, he just said: “I built it.”
familiar. I looked closer and recognized it beyond any doubt. It was one of my earlier drawings, from
the time when I was still inspired by virtually everything. The drawing was of a zeppelin in graceful
flight — at that time I really fell for them: large as clouds, grand machines, leisurely traversing
the skies. Flying these airships agitated my imagination. But this was so long ago; no, really, I didn’t
even recall if I had lost or thrown this drawing away. And how did he get it? Could it be, he had stolen
it from me? I looked at N in awe, but, anticipating my question, he just said: “I built it.”
A: Together, we went up on the deck. There wasn’t much light, but I could make out most
of it. I saw a steering wheel in the front. Then I noticed that there were two of them. It felt
really strange to see an airship so close up for the first time in my life. Its envelope was
filled with gas, and it was waiting for us to act. I looked back, not yet completely sure, if it
was okay. N stretched out his hand to me again.
of it. I saw a steering wheel in the front. Then I noticed that there were two of them. It felt
really strange to see an airship so close up for the first time in my life. Its envelope was
filled with gas, and it was waiting for us to act. I looked back, not yet completely sure, if it
was okay. N stretched out his hand to me again.
A: We began ascending. I felt the floor pushing against my feet. I turned my head to feel thewarm
wind on my face. Soon enough, we were floating above the city. The highest of its towers, that had
pushed me down just this morning, were at our feet.
wind on my face. Soon enough, we were floating above the city. The highest of its towers, that had
pushed me down just this morning, were at our feet.
A: We looked at the city in silence. Its buildings, small and big, formed a fanciful lace-like
pattern, and I saw it in a completely different light. The sky was clear and bright like a glass
of pure water. It made me feel the long forgotten warmth spread inside me. It had been a very
long time since I last felt so free. We were simply flying, and I didn’t even know where to orwhat
would happen next, but it did not matter. It is very hard to see into the future, and especially
so when it actually comes.
pattern, and I saw it in a completely different light. The sky was clear and bright like a glass
of pure water. It made me feel the long forgotten warmth spread inside me. It had been a very
long time since I last felt so free. We were simply flying, and I didn’t even know where to orwhat
would happen next, but it did not matter. It is very hard to see into the future, and especially
so when it actually comes.
The project was completed as part of a personal exhibition in the Triumph Gallery in August 2018
