Artwork

A little Happening. I don't have a title for it yet, even though it's been several years since I made it. It is called Poul's paper happening or the Wrapping happening. A roll of plain brown wrapping paper of preferably only 50 cm width should be used, such rolls with 50 m in it. The direct consumption is 12-15 m or a little more, but there must be a surplus as the roller must be able to stay on the floor by its own weight and provide a little resistance during the course of the happening.

The happening requires at least 10 m2 of floor space. It can be done outdoors.  In time, it has an extension of 1 1/2-2 1/2 minutes. It doesn't really have a front and back, but I think it's best that there is only an audience in one direction, it would even be best if the audience is seated. There is a big difference between seated and standing audiences.

The process: a person, or me (as far as I know, it has not yet been anyone but me) takes a position, in the middle of and with a face turned towards the audience. Roll of the paper roll out the first meter before I place it on the floor next to my feet, so that it can roll freely away from me, perpendicularly, seen from the audience to the left. Ideally, there should be plenty of space that way, and it is especially necessary to make sure that there are no objects or sharp edges that could contribute to the paper being torn.  

When the roll is placed, I bend down and place the rolled-out piece around the lower part of my legs so that these for the audience appear as a package. Once that's done, I turn on the spot using small gentle movements of the feet, around "opposite the sun." I now slowly place the top edge of the paper higher and higher up my legs, while the roller moves slowly along the floor. In 3-4 revolutions I have reached the hips. I have still made sure that the paper is smooth and as tight as possible without completely destroying the possibility of movement.

The continued wrapping is now left entirely to the left hand as well as the continued turning and slight resistance from the roller, which may now have run far away. The right hand and forearm are now used to keep a slightly greater freedom of movement open in the middle and upper part of the pack, which is a necessity to be able to complete the course successfully.

When I am completely wrapped up above my head and after the left arm facing the ceiling is tucked away completely in paper, I stand still for a moment with my front facing the audience. This can be done if you make sure to find out about the audience's location before the wrapping passes eye level.

After standing still for a moment, when the crackling of paper that has otherwise accompanied the process has ceased, the right hand is brought as quietly as possible into the right trouser pocket for scissors or an open pocketknife, which of course must have been placed there in advance. With scissors or a knife, poke a small hole through the paper. The hole gradually expands in an upward and downward direction to finally have completely opened the package, out of which I now step with a bow to the audience, while the last pieces of paper fall down towards the audience.