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| Story of Artist SinGh and the longest painting. |
38 days in the making, Artist SinGh, took the Guinness world
record title for the longest painting by an individual, with this fruity
colorful creation measuring 3,444.91 meters (11,302 ft 2.11 in) or 2.14 miles.
The painting was displayed publicly stretching across the
parks, bridges and public walkways of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA in September
this year.
The painting features
various still life and is named "The Transcendental." The longest
painting has also won other records:- Guinness record holder 2013
- Miracle World record holder 2014
- Record setters 2014
- Unique world records 2014
- Elite world record 2015
This attempt
is to raise awareness about Liberty for Women, well-being of women, and role of
women in our society.
To transcend is to go to a higher level, to go above and
beyond the ordinary. Transcendental knowledge is much higher than the knowledge
of our mundane existence. I have named my painting “the transcendental” because
this work is transcending me to another level of discipline—making the world’s
longest painting in 38 days and working for 20 hours a day to do something that
has never been done before. This also reminds me of my surreal experience of
being buried alive for three days.
Whether transcendental knowledge really exists is debatable
just like many other abstract concepts. However, making this painting requires
such discipline and self-control that for me it is beyond the ordinary, it is
mystical, spiritual, elevating and transcendental.
Why did the world's longest painting become controversial? Having moved ahead from the ArtPrize fiasco last year, this year I was determined to compete in the ArtPrize. There would be no 'controversy', no 'nudity' no so called 'attention seeking'. My painting would portray just pears, flowers or simply call it still life.
The idea was to display the painting in Artprize-- world’s largest art contest. I thought all I have to do is just break the record. However, as creative forces overpowered my head, my plan for the ArtPrize changed tremendously to make "the" longest painting. Not just long but longest in the entire world and finish the race in the least amount of days. Why not do something beyond the ordinary? I decided to name my painting 'The Transcendental'. Making the world's longest painting in a few days would transcend me beyond my mundane existence. It would be an artistic pleasure hard to express in words.
The first challenge of course was to raise the money and/or find the sponsors. I had three weeks to do it all. What would be the cost to do it? $100,000.00
To my best surprise all the energies and forces out there in the world joined me and everything came together. I was ready to roll!!!
When I embarked this life-changing journey, I knew it won't be easy. My goal was to complete the painting before the beginning of the ArtPrize on 18th September.
I had to meet stringent Guinness standards to succeed, one of which was that the painting had to be displayed publically for the Guinness officials to see and measure.
A project of this nature, needed collaboration, and cooperation of the authorities. I got in touch with the ArtPrize curator "Clare Fox" to let them know of my ambitious plans. I was given a go ahead for this on the fly.
I started painting for 20 hours every day so that I could create painting before the ArtPrize began. However, at the final point, I was told by the curator that I couldn't do it. Kevin Bust (Exhibition Director) of Artprize stopped me at best and banned me from the "Artprize" for making the world’s longest painting. Oh well!!
After exhausting every possible option of reconciliation with the authorities, I was left with two options:
·
Loose the money and disappoint all involved with
the project
·
Or display the painting without permission and
pay off all the fines if there were any.
The authority of the
curator Clare Fox was only over the park and nowhere else. I decided
collaborate with hundred of other venues so that I could abandon the park all
together and displayed this giant monster all over the city. The painting went
over the bridges, over the loading docks, by the river fishing area,
underpasses, over the steps, under the steps, under the bridges, public walk
ways, through the museum, via the art school, through the luxury hotels,
private properties and more. This monster was so long that it caught everyone's
attention and won admiration. It is hard to get things done in a complex world we live in!!! However, the battle had been won. The world’s longest painting had been created and displayed, Guinness World Record was achieved and, the city of Grand Rapids had just witnessed history!
I LEARNED A LOT...HOPING ARTPRIZE IN FUTURE IS OPEN TOWARDS
GREAT IDEAS AS WELL.
