Mano a Mano

The patterns that iron filaments form when acted on by a magnet depicted on canvas.

The process consisted of brushing loose iron filings on the surface of the canvas and rotating a magnet counterclockwise from below, revealing its magnetic field lines. I set the iron with multiple layers of spray adhesive, creating a design that resembles a battleground of magnetic force.

Furthering the symbolism of a battlefield, I cut the canvas in half to represent opposing frontlines. Then, I stitched it back together using the linear patterns I observed from pushing the polar sides of two magnets together as a guide for the stitches. How I came to this stitching pattern can be seen in figures 1-6 and video.